Western Mountains Alliance Press
...helping people shape the future of western Maine.

Free Farm Energy Audit Workshop

SKOWHEGAN -- On Wednesday, May 14, 9:30 - 11 a.m., farmers interested in learning more about increasing energy efficiency on their farms are invited to attend a free workshop on energy audits at Grassland Farm in Skowhegan. 

AJ Ballard, an energy auditor from Efficiency Maine, will meet with interested farmers and community members to review the process and findings of an energy audit recently completed for Grassland Farm as part of the Harvesting Clean Energy Program of the Farm Energy Partners Network. Energy audits involve a process where a professional auditor identifies areas where a farm, other type business or home can realize energy savings through changes to processes, equipment or building upgrades, such as insulation.

Mr., Ballard will discuss best practices already in use on Grassland Farm, as well as recommendations for achieving additional energy savings.  Attendees will get information on how to find energy savings on their own farms, how to access Efficiency Maine incentives for equipment upgrades, and how to determine whether they may benefit from a full energy audit of their own farm business.

In addition to presenting the Grassland Farm audit results, Mr. Ballard will explain the process used for small business energy audits, discuss typical conservation measures and equipment upgrades that can save on energy costs, and answer questions regarding how farmers can reduce energy costs in their businesses. 

Grassland Farm is a certified organic family-run dairy owned by Sarah and Garin Smith and producing milk, beef, vegetables, fruits, berries, and sweet corn. 

Efficiency Maine is a statewide effort to promote more efficient use of electricity, help Maine residents and businesses reduce energy costs, and improve Maine's environment.   The program is funded by electricity consumers and administered by the Maine Public Utilities Commission.  Since 2003, Efficiency Maine has paid cash incentives to more than 980 Maine businesses to help them purchase and install electric energy saving equipment. This equipment is saving Maine businesses more than 56 million kWh annually.  Maine farms, agricultural-related businesses and other businesses may receive up to $50,000 per year from Efficiency Maine by implementing measures to reduce energy costs.  Farmers that participate in energy audits through Efficiency Maine also receive information about a cash incentive program.  For more information, visit www.efficiencymaine.com.

The Farm Energy Audit Workshop is sponsored by the Western Mountains Alliance, a member of the Maine Rural Partners Farm Energy Partners Network.  The presentation is funded by a federal USDA Risk Management Agency grant for the Network’s Harvesting Clean Energy Program and will be the first of two workshops on farm energy audits offered this year.  The workshop is free but registration is requested.  Please call 778-3885 or email tcook@westernmountainsalliance.org to register or for more information. Click here for directions.

“Getting Started in Niche Marketing and Value Added Products”
Wednesday, April 30, 2-5 p.m.
Location: University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 7 County Drive, Skowhegan

Learn from area farmers and marketing professionals how to successfully develop and market new value added farm products and how to tap into agri-tourism opportunities. Click here for a for a full description.

Presenters: Sarah Smith, Grassland Farm, Judy Dimock, North Start Orchards, Kathy Hopkins, UMaine Cooperative Extension, Tessa Burpee, Heart of Maine Resources Conservation and Development, Deanne Herman, ME Dept. of Agriculture, and Mark Edwards, UMaine Cooperative Extension. 

Sponsored by Western Mountains Alliance with support from the Farm Credit NE AgEnhancement Program.

To Register: $18.  Please register before April 28th by calling 207-778-3885 or email tcook@westernmountainsalliance.org.

“Essentials of Business Planning for Small Farms”
Monday, April 7, 2-5 p.m.
Location: Western Mountains Alliance Conference Area, Church Street Commons, Farmington

Learn from area farmers and business planning professionals how to successfully develop a business plan for value added farm products and how to access resources for the success of your small farm business. 

Presenters: Amy LeBlanc, Whitehill Farm, Kathy Trodden, Second Chance Farm and Longfellows Creamery LLC, Tessa Burpee, Heart of Maine Resource Conservation and Development, Keri Sands, Farms for the Future of CEI, and Rose Creps, Small Business Development Centers.

Sponsored by Western Mountains Alliance with support from the Farm Credit NE AgEnhancement Program.

Western Mountain Alliance and Mountain Counties Heritage, Inc receive 2007 Noyce Award for Non-Proft Excellence.

At the recent GrowSmart Summit on October 19, Western Mountains Alliance and Mountains Counties Heritage, Inc. were honored with the 2007 Noyce Award for Non-Profit Excellence for their collaboration resulting in the Maine Mountain Sustainable Development Initiative. This year the award, presented by Hank Schmelzer, CEO of the Maine Community Foundation, focused on non-profits whose work "engages local people in economic development planning and implementation, building on and preserving the unique character and quality of live that typifies many Maine Communities." 

The Maine Mountain Sustainable Development Initiative (MMSDI) grew out of several years of work by the Western Mountains Alliance and Mountains Counties Heritage, Inc. and more recent efforts to integrate their work activities within a shared four point framework.   

Build Knowledge of Place. Understanding our natural and cultural heritage resources is the first step in leveraging assets for economic growth and for developing a regional identity that promotes coordinated planning and action
Coordinate local and regional planning.  Development efforts in our region have been fragmented and inconsistent.  Successful implementation will require consensus-based alignment around shared goals.
Strengthen capacity for action.  Leadership, organizational development, connectivity, and capital (including philanthropic capital) are necessary to support effective sustainable action at both local and regional scales.
Support targeted production networks.  Production networks link businesses, organizations and government entities to address specific opportunities and threats, build on limited resources and create value-added services and products. 

In accepting the Noyce Award, Tanya Swain, Executive Director of Western Mountains Alliance, expressed deep thanks the Maine Community Foundation and the Noyce Committee and acknowledged, "Our organizations are very small – we have five staff between the two organizations -- and we serve a large four-county region.  We rely on relationships with dozens of groups and individuals who are all pulling for the region.  This is really an award for all the groups who care about western Maine and are working together for its future." 

Bruce Hazard,  Executive Director of Mountains Counties Heritage, Inc echoed Swain's sentiments, "We are a small organization, working in a big part of the state. We have passion ... for place, people, land. That is the origination of the work we do."

Imagine Western Maine:  A Conversation with the
Maine Development Foundation

FARMINGTON -- On Friday, October 12th at 7 a.m. the Western Maine Legislative Caucus will sponsor a free public breakfast and forum with speaker Laurie LaChance, Executive Director of the Maine Development Foundation.  The presentation, titled “Imagine Western Maine,” will take place at the North Dining Hall on the University of Maine at Farmington campus.

The Maine Development Foundation (MDF) drives sustainable, long-term economic growth for Maine by stimulating new ideas, developing leaders and providing common ground for solving problems and advancing issues.  MDF is the oldest and one of the most successful statewide public-private partnerships in the nation.  MDF was created by the Governor and Legislature in 1978 as a private, non-profit corporation with a broad mandate to promote Maine’s economy.  MDF is financed primarily with private resources.

The Western Maine Legislative Caucus series is a collaborative project supported by the Franklin Community Health Network, Greater Franklin County Development Corporation, Mission at the Eastward, School Administrative District 9, the University of Maine Farmington, Western Maine Community Action Program and the Western Mountains Alliance. 

To learn more about the Maine Development Foundation’s mission, visit their website www.mdf.org. 

For more information about the forum or to suggest topics for future events, please contact the Western Mountains Alliance at (207) 778-3885 or email tswain@westernmountainsalliance.org.

Celebrating the People of Western Maine: Local Musicians, Youth Leaders and Advocates for a Promising Future Celebrate with a Harvest Dinner Featuring Area Farms

On November 1st Western Mountains Alliance’s Twentieth Anniversary Dinner will be held at Webster Hall in Kingfield and will feature Zevulon, an eight piece family blue grass band.  The band will perform prior to a delicious harvest dinner featuring small farms of western Maine. 

Inspired by the local bluegrass fervor of central Maine, Zevulon hit the New England music scene in June of 2005. The fun and friendly atmosphere they create makes for a show that’s both exciting and easygoing -- and the majority of the musicians in this family band are still in their teens.

Clarissa and Rachel Maynard cut their teeth on bluegrass guitar and fiddle with the Abbott Hill Ramblers in 2004, contributing significantly to the band’s second and third albums, remaining members of that group until August of this year. Now focusing solely on Zevulon, they do the lion’s share of vocals and explore out-of-the-box styles on guitar and fiddle.

Robert and Joshua Maynard have always had a keen interest in the music and started to play bluegrass with their sisters in 2004. Gleaning knowledge from such skilled banjo players as Chris Prickitt, Jens Kruger, and Carter Logan, Robert has managed to stay true to the banjo while juggling interests in percussion and singing. Joshua, the youngest at 13, plays the mandolin with a devoted energy and style that is all his own.

With a rich background in jazz and blues, Deb Maynard, (momma to the rest of the band,) plays the bass and the saxophone, adding yet another dimension to the band.

Zevulon’s repertoire and performance is truly versatile and unique -- as evidenced by a resume that includes open stages, talent shows, benefits, churches, coffee houses, fairs, festivals, banquets, picnics and weddings. Their down home theme is flavored strongly with country and gospel while they touch strains of bluegrass, folk and blues. The band’s debut album was released in May 2007.

The event, November 1, 2007, 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Webster Hall in Kingfield, marks the 20th anniversary of Western Mountains Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustainable development advocacy and action in western Maine.  WMA is known for its roles as convener of diverse stakeholders, builder of local leaders and entrepreneurs, and incubator for innovative projects that promote economic opportunities, while protecting western Maine’s quality of life and natural resources for future generations.

The keynote speaker will be Joel Haskard from the Clean Energy Resource Teams project in Minnesota.  Joel will speak on the power of community networks to create a lasting impact in Maine’s clean renewable energy future. 

Haskard is CERTs’ co-coordinator for the University of Minnesota's Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships program.  CERTs works with citizens across Minnesota to connect them with the necessary technical resources they need to identify and implement community-scale energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.  In 2006, CERTs was awarded the Minnesota Environment Initiative Partnership of the Year award for the diverse collection of stakeholders the project mobilized.
CERTs has six regional resource planning teams, which have developed a bold vision for their state’s energy future through conservation and production from clean new technologies, including wind, biomass, biofuels and solar.  Pilot renewable energy projects across Minnesota are being funded through the initiative.
The evening will be both fun and inspiring!  Following a silent auction of Maine artwork celebrating the Eat Smart Eat Local vision, WMA will announce the winners of the King Cummings Leadership Award and the Jane deFrees Rural Youth Leaders Award.  The awards acknowledge a western Maine organization and a youth-led group that have made outstanding contributions to western Maine’s future. 

Registration is limited; $35/$45; please call (207) 778-3885 before October 25th. 

The event is sponsored by: Ameriprise Financial Services, Bangor Savings Bank Foundation, Cabins to Castles, Franklin Printing, Franklin Savings Bank, Heritage House Restaurant, Inn at Winters Hill, Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, Marble Family Farm, Sugarloaf Mountain Corp., The West Wind Group, Unity Foundation, Mountains Counties Heritage and Western Mountains Alliance.

“THE ART OF EATING WELL” EXHIBITS LOCAL TALENT

Madison:  “The Art of Eating Well,” a multi media art exhibit is being shown in the rotunda in Madison’s Public Library through mid-September.   This show features nine Maine artists, whose designs convey the message of a western Maine initiative supporting local farms and promoting greater access to fresh healthy foods.  

The location of the show is equally inspiring.  In 2006 the 100 year-old Madison Public Library removed a false ceiling that hid the stunning octagonal dome architecture in the rotunda. “If you haven’t been in to see the library’s new look, please come in.”  invites Head Librarian Carol Collins.  “It’s the most beautiful building in Madison.”  The library is open from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

In 2005, the Western Mountains Alliance (WMA) launched the Eat Smart Eat Local initiative to promote local agriculture. WMA asked artists from all over Maine to help capture this concept in a logo that could be used to publicize the initiative. The response was tremendous.  Professional artists and students used oil, watercolor, graphic design/photography, collage, crayon, pastel, and wool fiber to create a poster design.  The winning image is now being used by coalitions across western Maine to build awareness of the importance of supporting our farmers: the local people who grow and raise our food.

The nine artists exhibiting at the Madison Public Library are: Caitlin Allen of Starks, Lynne Harwood of Anson, Katie Bussierre and Katie Pooler of Skowhegan, Luanne Wrenn of Wilton, Jennifer Hartung of Farmington, Betsy Bell of Mexico, and Tiffany Stevens and Virginia Valdes of Sumner.  Lynne Harwood finds inspiration for her art on the farm.  “I love being in rural New England and the lifestyle of seasonal chores – growing and preserving food, heating with wood, keeping chickens and bees. Painting fits in as another farm product.”

Virginia Valdes is a new media artist whose work has been shown internationally.  She teaches graphic arts at Oxford Hills Technical School and her students have won numerous awards (www.virginiavaldes.com). One of her own designs is on display, as well as her student, Tiffany Stevens.  Tiffany is inspired by the work of Andy Warhol and Ansel Adams and plans to study Interior Design at Hesser College.

Artist Luanne Wrenn, teaches children to paint in her studio Wrenn’s Nest Studio in Wilton.  Katie Bussierre and Katie Pooler were students in the Accelerated Art program at Skowhegan Middle School when they submitted their art work.  Betsy Bell has exhibited across the country.  Jennifer Hartung of Design Initiatives created the winning logo.

The work of the twenty-seven artists who originally submitted their art has been displayed throughout the state over the past two years.  Seven posters can be seen now at a concurrent show at The Heritage Center on Church Street in Farmington.  The next stop for the exhibit will be the Oxford County Fairgrounds at the new Farm Life Center, September 12-15, 2007. 

Thanks to the generosity of the artists, several of the original pieces will be auctioned at Western Mountains Alliance’s Twentieth Anniversary Dinner, November 1, 2007 in Kingfield.

Several of the poster designs by Oxford Hills Technical School graphics arts students were transformed by WMA into postcards with inspiring messages and are on display at the exhibit.  To learn more about the auction or how you can support the Eat Smart Eat Local project by purchasing commentary art postcards, click here.

"TELLING THEIR STORIES LIVE"

On Thursday, June 7, women business owners from the 2006 publication “Telling Their Stories” will present to emerging entrepreneurs and new business owners at a special event and local business showcase hosted by Women, Work and Community and the Western Mountains Alliance at the Maine Mountain Heritage Center on 109 Church Street in Farmington.

Panelists for “Telling Their Stories LIVE” will feature business owners of Maine Balsam Fir Products in West Paris, Nancy Marshall Communications in Augusta, Cabins to Castles landscaping in Denmark and Pooh Corner Farm and Greenhouses in Mason Twp.  The event will also feature representatives and information from the Greater Franklin County Development Corporation, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Development Centers, the Department of Economic and Community Development and the Women’s Business Center at Coastal Enterprises Inc.

Coordination for the event is supported by Routes to Success and Entrepreneurs Network, and Art Works, two small business networks supported by Women, Work and Community.  The event kicks off at 3:30 p.m. with an open house of small businesses involved in the WCC networks and business resource displays.  Presentations begin at 4 p.m. and will be followed by light snacks and an opportunity to network.  RSVP by June 1 to tcook@westernmountainsalliance.org or, for more information, contact Tanya Swain at WMA, 778-3885.