Voting for Maine’s Future

October 4, 2010

On Nov. 2nd, 2010, Maine voters will have the opportunity to invest in the lands that support Maine’s economy, our wildlife, and our quality of life.  Mark Berry participated in a panel discussion about the Land for Maine’s Future Program on “State of the State” the weekly TV talk show of the Maine Center for Economic Policy.  Christopher St. John hosted the show, and Mark was joined on the panel by Tim Glidden, the Director of the Land for Maine’s Future Program, and Marilyn Meyerhans, owner of Lakeside Orchards.

The conversation focused on the benefits of the Land for Maine’s Future Program to Maine people and the Maine economy, and the upcoming vote to renew state funding for land conservation in Maine.  Mark described Grand Lake Stream and the Farm Cove Community Forest as examples of the importance of the program to supporting local economies and quality of life, and highlighted the West Grand Lake Community Forest Project as a great example of what could be accomplished with renewed funding.  The project is essential to protecting Grand Lake Stream’s heritage as a destination for outdoor recreation, and supporting the natural resource based economy.

Watch the Show:

Updated:  Watch the video on You-Tube in two-parts: Part 1 and Part 2.   DVDs are also available.

Time Warner Cable will air the show on Tuesday, Oct 5, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct 9 and Sunday, Oct 10 at 11:30 a.m. on Channel 9 (Central Maine, York, Cumberland, Washington & Aroostook Counties) and Channel 12 in Penobscot County.  Other community television stations that run the program are WOGT, Ogunquit; WVACTV Channel 2, Bethel; CATTV, Baileyville; Harpswell, Freeport; Bath Community Television Channel 14, Mt. Blue Community TV, and Brunswick TV3.

Get Ready to Vote:

If you’re a Maine voter, you should know that the Land for Maine’s Future Program has been essential to conservation around Grand Lake Stream, from Little Falls to the Farm Cove Community Forest.  Renewed funding could help ensure the 21,700-acre West Grand Lake Community Forest remains undeveloped and open for public recreation while supporting the economy.  Vote to invest in Maine’s future!

Ballot Language: Question 3: Do you favor a $9,750,000 bond issue to invest in land conservation and working waterfront preservation and to preserve state parks to be matched by $9,250,000 in federal and other funds?

Components of Bond

$6,500,000                Traditional LMF funding (conservation, water access, farmland, wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation)

$1,000,000                LMF Farmland funding

$1,750,000                LMF Working Waterfront funding

$500,000                   Funds to preserve state parks and properties managed by the Department of Conservation