By Marian McCue, Portland resident and former editor and publisher of The Forecaster The Forecaster op-ed Among the latest volleys in the fusillade hurled by Gov. Paul LePage last week was a vow to build a road through land proposed for a new national park in northern Maine. The land is owned by Roxanne Quimby, who Read More
national monument
Canoeing the East Branch of the Penobscot River: September 13-18, 2015
by Bruce & Hartley Spencer We were introduced to this wild part of Maine when our parents took us to Baxter State Park in 1955. This visit and subsequent visits impressed upon Hartley and me what a magnificent gift Percival Baxter gave to the people of Maine. Our first canoe was named Wassataquoik for this Read More
Exploring Katahdin Woods and Waters
In February I spent five days with students from Chewonki’s Maine Coast Semester exploring Katahdin Woods and Waters, the area east of Baxter State Park proposed for inclusion in the National Park system. The Maine Coast Semester is a four-month-long program for high school juniors. In the fall and again in the winter/spring, 42 participants Read More
Poliquin Bill Would Give Veto Power to Park Opponents
By The BDN Editorial Board Bangor Daily News editorial In late November, three members of Maine’s congressional delegation — Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and Rep. Bruce Poliquin — sent a letter to the president laying out reasonable conditions for him to consider if he is to declare land in Maine a national monument. Read More
A National Park or a National Monument? North Woods Groups Shift Focus
Unable to convince members of Maine’s congressional delegation to introduce legislation for a North Woods national park, supporters are now hoping President Obama will use his authority to designate a national monument as a step toward eventual park status. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story In June 1916, President Woodrow Wilson Read More
Businesses Show Support for National Park Proposal
By Kayla Binette, WCSH6 Staff WCSH6 news story BANGOR, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — More than 200 businesses in the state are now in strong support of the proposed national park and national recreation area in the Katahdin region. “I’m for this national park, primarily because there is going to be an economic benefit to the Read More
200 Maine Businesses Endorse Proposed Katahdin-area National Park
By Nick Sambides Jr., BDN Staff writer Bangor Daily News story BANGOR, Maine — More than 200 businesses from around the state endorsed a proposed 150,000-acre national park and recreation area in the Katahdin region Thursday. “I think this national park would be good for business,” said Brad Ryder, owner of Epic Sports of Bangor Read More
Boosting Tourism in Rural Maine Will Take More Than a National Park
by BDN editorial board Bangor Daily News editorial The town councils in Millinocket, East Millinocket and Medway have spent a lot of time discussing the possibility of a nearby national park. This sometimes heated debate has taken valuable time and energy away from the larger issue of the region’s need to develop a more coherent Read More
Skiing at Katahdin Woods and Waters: A Glorious Trip
Some friends and I headed to Patten and turned west toward the North Gate of Baxter State Park. We stopped at Matagamon Wilderness Store and Cabins, who, with Bowlin Camps, have been grooming 18 miles of trails along the East Branch on the Elliotsville Plantation land that I hope will become the next national park. Read More