Sharon Staz, KLPD head, named to Fact Finding Mission to Japan this July

KENNEBUNK—
Sharon Staz, General Manager of the Kennebunk Light and Power District (KLPD), has been selected to join the Solar Electric Power Association’s Fact Finding Mission to Japan this July. The mission, for utility decisions makers, will assemble in Tokyo and travel throughout Central Japan, ending in Kyoto.
The purpose of the mission is to provide opportunities to exchange information with Japanese utilities, solar integrators, technology researches and policy makers. The weeklong mission will include peer-to-peer, utility-to-utility meetings, residential and commercial rooftop PV installation visits, tours of research facilities, and meetings with leading solar manufacturers and project developers.
The delegation will visit the Ota City PV Demonstration Project, 2.13 Megawatt roof-mounted systems aggregated on 533 houses along with the Research Center for Photovoltaics and other installations.
KLPD’s general manager since 1998, Staz was named the Northeast Public Power Association’s (NEPPA) Person of the Year in 2008. NEPPA has 76 member utilities throughout the six New England states. Staz was elected to the American Public Power Association Board of Directors in 2004, becoming the first Maine person ever elected to serve on that board.
NEPPA also honored Staz with the prestigious Francis “Skip” Willey Jr. Individual Achievement Award in 1998. Staz currently serves as Secretary and Legislative Liaison for DIRIGO, the consumer-owned utility association of the state of Maine. In 2006 she served on the Governor’s Renewable Energy Task Force and the Governor’s Maine Energy Council.
Before coming to Kennebunk, Staz served 12 years as Manager of the Princeton (Mass.) Municipal Light Department where she received the American Public Power Associations’ Seven Hats Award in 1989 for outstanding service to the community.
Staz is currently Chair of the Northeast Power Association’s legislative committee and is a member of Kennebunk Energy Efficiency Committee.
Photo caption: Sharon Staz (Courtesy photo)

South Berwick’s Strawberry Festival Set for June 26

SOUTH BERWICK—
Always the last Saturday in June, this year the festival will be on 26 June 2010. The South Berwick Strawberry Festival officially kicks off summer for this quaint, southern Maine town of South Berwick. The kids are out of school, camps are open and the weather is getting warm. All over town one can see the bright red, white, and green strawberry flags that not only line the main streets, but can also be seen flying from many houses. The day is filled with food, entertainment, games, and crafts.
For thirty-five consecutive years, hundreds of volunteers from South Berwick have come together for a South Berwick tradition. As always, official Festival activities will take place only on the grounds of Central School, on Main Street, in the center of town. A stop at the Strawberry Festival Information Booth is a must to find out more about the day’s schedule for the entertainers, as well as where all the various activities are located and to purchase strawberry festival memorabilia.
Preparation of the strawberries start on Friday, the morning before the Festival at the Community Center, where over a hundred and fifty volunteers get together for a good old fashioned social to hull, slice, and sugar the berries. Other volunteers slice the biscuits, prepare the whipped cream and move everything under the Strawberry Shortcake tent so all will be ready for the Festival goers when it opens at 9 a.m. Things stay pretty busy for the entire Festival until it calls it quits at 4 p.m.
The Strawberry Festival Committee is pleased to announce that they we are continuing to serve Strawberry Shortcake and Cheesecake on biodegradable bowls, plates and spoons. These items are made out sugar cane called Bagasse tableware. Bagasse is the biomass remaining after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juices. Additionally, we will be recycling all of the hulls from the berries for anyone who would like them for composting. The boxes and the plastic containers for the berries will also be recycled.

Old Fashion Trolleys
Transportation to and from the Festival is FREE via an old fashion trolley ride. Running every 20 minutes, the trolleys will provide free transportation to the Festival from parking locations at Marshwood Great Works School on Rt 236, Community Center on Norton St, Powder House Hill, and Agamenticus Field.

Strawberry Tent and Food
Strawberry shortcakes have always been a favorite of the Festival. They will begin serving at 9 a.m. until we run out. Last year we served up over 250 cases of fresh strawberries, 85 gallons of whipped cream and over 330 dozen biscuits. Strawberry cheesecake has also been added to the menu and complimented with, you guessed it, strawberries. The cost of these items is still only $4.
In addition to shortcakes and cheesecakes there is also a huge Food Court. There will be a pancake breakfast from 6 – 10 a.m. Throughout the day there will be other various food items sold by local non-profit groups. The Fire Dept will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs, fries and cold drinks. The Community Pantry will be serving up frozen lemon aid. Knights of Columbus--fried dough; Masons--chicken BBQ and other assorted non-profit groups serving sandwich wraps, teriyaki, nachos, fruit cups, cotton candy and water.

Road Race
The day’s activities begin at 8 a.m., a 5 mile Road Race and 2.5 mile Fun Walk, sponsored by the South Berwick Recreation Department and local businesses, kick off from Marshwood Middle School on Academy St.

Entertainment
Throughout the day, a variety of entertainers from around the area will be performing on two stages set up around the grounds.
At the Central School Field Stage, Marcus Gale gets things going at 9-10 a.m.; Northern Explosion Cloggers, a great group of cloggers, go on at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. Funky Diva’s of Gospel at 2-4 p.m.
At the Central School Front Court stage, Vic and sticks Recycled Rhythm Band at 9 and 10 a.m., Women of Note, an cappella group at 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Rylie Harrod 1:30 – 2 p.m. and Seacoast Men of Harmony at 2:30 – 4 p.m.
In the Field Area from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., there’s Wildlife Encounters. For the kids there will be a climbing wall, pony rides, a giant tiger slide, dunking booth, exotic animals’ exhibition, pony rides, a bungee jumping setup and much more.

Crafts
Over 100 juried artisans will be on hand to display and sell their hand-made wares, including clothing, pottery, wood products, jewelry, paintings, photographs, candles, jams and dips, furniture, and much, much more. These crafters will be located both at the side of Central School and in the area around the food court.
Remember be kind to your pets and have them stay in the coolness of your home.
You can visit us at our website at www.southberwickstrawberryfestival.com.
Photo caption: Come to South Berwick on June 26 and help celebrate the annual Strawberry Festival. (Courtesy photo)

Wine Dinner Features Eileen Crane, Founder of Domaine Carneros

By Jim Kanak
Staff Columnist
OGUNQUIT—
Bintliff’s Restaurant in Ogunquit is the scene of a rather rare wine dinner phenomenon this summer. While normally such dinners involve wine brokers or sales representatives, Bintliff’s dinners include the actual wine maker from the vineyard being highlighted. The first of these occurred on June 4, when Eileen Crane, the founding winemaker and CEO of Domaine Carneros of California attended a five-course dinner accompanied by two still wines and three sparkling wines from her vineyard.
“It’s very challenging to get the winemakers themselves,” said chef Norm Herbert, Jr.. “They are in high demand. When the wine maker is present, it’s a lot more fun.”
Hebert created a menu that began with a reception featuring baked brie en croute stuffed with spicy roasted pears and almonds, with a selection of Maine cheeses. Domaine Carneros Brut sparkling wine accompanied the food.
The reception was followed by an appetizer course of BBQ shrimp (paired with a Rose sparkling wine), a first course of pan roasted pork tenderloin over slow roasted peaches and Maine fiddleheads (with avant garde pinot noir) and a second course of roasted flank steak stuffed with roasted eggplant, baby spinach, goat cheese, and tomato demi-glace (with Domaine Carneros pinot noir). A dessert of lemon curd in puff pastry with grilled pineapple, Maine blueberries, and ginger syrup (with Vermeil Demi-Sec sparkling wine) completed the meal.
“We paired the wines with particular foods, trying to incorporate that spirit with the food preparation,” Hebert said. “For the first course, we made the sauce with the paired wine. That makes for a nice, cleaner package. The dessert ginger sauce was made with the sparkling wine.”
Hebert said the restaurant was sold out for the dinner, with more than twice the number of diners that usually attend such dinners at the restaurant. Part of the attraction was Crane, Hebert said. Known as America’s Doyenne of sparkling wine, Crane was selected personally by Claude Taiittinger, who founded Champagne Taiitinger in the 1970s, to lead Domaine Carneros upon its founding in 1987.
“She’s very highly ranked,” Hebert said. “The Amelia Earhart of the wine industry.”
Hebert said the restaurant tries to do four to five wine dinners each year. The next one is set for Aug. 19 and it also includes a wine maker - Peter Merriam of Merriam Vineyards in Sonoma.
“He is from New England,” said Hebert. “He owns a house here and will be the presenter and speaker.”
Hebert said the menu and price would be available on the restaurant’s website (www.bintliffsogunquit.com) soon.
Photo caption: Norm Hebert, Sr. (left) and Norm Hebert, Jr., of Bintliff’s Restaurant with winemaker Eileen Crane. (Courtesy photo)

YCCC Summer Enrollment Soars

WELLS—
York County Community College Dean of Students, Dr. Corinne Kowpak, announced recently that the college has reached another record summer enrollment. With a total of 501 students enrolled in the 2010 Summer semester, the college has realized an increase of 41%, compared to Summer 2009, with 51% of those students being new to the college.
“In total, we have 58 sections running this semester, including 5 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY),” Kowpak advised. “Of those sections, 77% are enrolled at 80% or more. We were very successful in developing a schedule that was responsive to the needs of the summer enrollees.” In addition to the sections offered at PNSY, 37 are being taught at the College Drive campus in Wells, while another 16 are being taught online.
“We are pleased to see continued record numbers,” offered Dr. Charles Lyons, college president. “YCCC is the youngest in the Maine Community College system, but is the fastest growing. The quality of education combined with the affordable tuition and flexible course schedule are all contributing to these impressive numbers. We are pleased to be able to accommodate those in York County looking to further their education.”

Food Network Comes to Wells to Feature the Maine Diner

By Candi Enman
Staff Columnist
WELLS—
It’s shaping up to be an exciting year for the Maine Diner. The iconic Wells eatery received the prestigious Maine Restaurant Association’s 2010 Restaurateur of the Year Award; was invited to be part of the New Orleans Roadfood Festival, a French Quarter street fest “honoring legendary eats;” and recently the Diner was voted by NECN viewers as the Best Diner in New England.
And it just keeps getting better.
The Diner had to close its doors to unsuspecting guests on two separate days - May 30th and June 2nd - for the filming of an upcoming episode of “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” The wildly popular Food Network series features a road trip concept with host Guy Fieri traveling around the country in his ’67 Chevy Camaro SS Convertible to spotlight small, independent eateries. Food Network viewers recommend their favorite local dining spots to be featured on the show and the Maine Diner was a top pick.
“Show producers told us we had been on their radar for a number of years,” said Maine Diner co-owner, Myles Henry. “They seemed to love the restaurant and the crew and complimented our cleanliness and organization. They said they had never seen a place pump out such high quality food.”
With his trademark bleached blond spiky hair, “Triple D’s” host, Fieri, a chef and restaurateur, has become somewhat of a culinary rock star. He also hosts Food TV’s “Guy’s Big Bite” and “Guy Off The Hook,” as well as NBC’s primetime series, “Minute to Win It.”
“Guy was great. He interacted with the staff and interviewed our customers. He’s down to earth and humble, with real people skills,” remarked Henry. Fieri left behind his insignia just above the kitchen door, a tattoo-like painted image of his face and the words “Guy Ate Here.”
Relying on his family’s home-style recipes, many that were his grandmother’s, Henry and the Diner staff served up Seafood Chowder, New England Cod Fish Cakes and their scrumptious signature Lobster Pie for the show taping.
Now in its 27th year, the Henry family is very proud of the staff, many of whom have worked at the Diner for more than a decade, or even two. They eagerly await the episode’s airing, anticipated to be sometime in the next six months.
“Food Network will let us know within one month of the air date and we’ll post it on our website and on our Facebook page,” added Henry. Friends of the Maine Diner can also stay up to date by signing up for email announcements on their website at www.mainediner.com.
If you’ve never eaten at the Maine Diner, you might want to get down there soon to see what the buzz is all about. Summer is just around the corner and in the next few weeks you may have to wait in a long line to sample their tasty, regional road food creations. Five million customers can’t be wrong.
“Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” airs Mondays at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Fridays at 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. (all times Eastern).
Photo caption: Fieri’s insignia above the Diner’s kitchen door (Candi Enman photo)

Berwick Veterans, Families Prepare to Salute ‘Old Glory’

BERWICK—
On a day to celebrate the American Flag, members of Charles S. Hatch Post #79, The American Legion, will also honor “Old Glory” in a special outdoor flag retirement ceremony.
On Monday, June 14th, at 7 p.m. at the front entrance of the Berwick Town Hall on Sullivan Square, the citizens of Berwick are invited to join us for our Flag Day ceremony. Anyone who has a worn, torn or tattered “Stars and Stripes” can bring it to the Berwick Town Hall before close of business on June 14th for inclusion in this ceremony.
The American flag was authorized by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, but commemoration of this significant event was slow in its development. The Stars and Stripes first flew in a Flag Day celebration in 1861 in Hartford, Conn. The first national observance of Flag Day came on June 14, 1877, 100 years after the original resolution establishing the nation’s symbol.
On June 14, 1916, President Wilson issued a proclamation calling for a nation-wide observance of Flag Day and while Flag Day was a popular celebration for many years after this proclamation, it didn’t receive its official congressional designation until 1949.
Please come join the members of Post #79, our auxiliary and local Scouts on June 14th as we properly retire unserviceable American flags. In the event of inclement weather, this ceremony will be rescheduled for 7:00 PM on 21 June. Can’t make it? Then remember Flag Day, June14, 2010 where you live and/or work. Show your colors!

Friends of the Ogunquit Heritage Museum Hosts Its First Open House

OGUNQUIT—
On Sunday, June 6, 2010, the Friends of the Ogunquit Heritage Museum held an open house to welcome members and the public to the 2010 exhibition. In spite of very stormy weather, the event was attended by almost 100 guests and members of the Friends, as well as a number of celebrated political names such as Barney Frank, Congressman from Massachusetts, and Chellie Pingree, Congresswoman representing Maine’s first district in Washington.
This year, the Friends of the OHM used the open house as the occasion to present to long-time curator, Barbara Woodbury, and her husband, Peter Woodbury, a bronze plaque dedicated to their long and devoted stewardship of the Ogunquit Heritage Museum. Without the Woodburys, it is likely that the Museum would not have survived and thrived as it has since its inception in 2002.
Highlighting the Ogunquit Beach this year, the Museum posted photographs from the earliest days of the beach, along with an historical recounting of how the beach was saved from private development and kept as a public park for use by the public today.
On view in the same room are clippings and photos of the storm of 1978 that sent the Lobster Bar crashing against the bridge and out to sea. Also featured is Isabel Lewando’s coverage of the repair of the dunes by the Army Corps of Engineers, and the subsequent battle fought by SCROD (the organization formed to challenge the work carried out by the ACE and return the dunes to their former state). Of special note are the 1900s photographs taken and preserved by Florence Whittier Tyler.
In the Museum’s Art Room, there are numerous artists’ renderings of the Ogunquit Beach, along with a very powerful oil by Channing Hare of Richard Perkins at the beach.
The Architecture Room this year is dedicated to an exposition of the construction of Dunelawn, its history as a hotel for more than 30 years, and its eventual conversion into the present-day Dunelawn Condominiums.
As in the past, a refurbished fisherman’s shack has been assembled by the Museum to illustrate the paraphernalia and necessities of early fishing life in Perkins Cove.
Visitors to the Museum will be welcomed from Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free, though donations are greatly appreciated. The Ogunquit Heritage Museum is located at 86 Obed’s Lane in Ogunquit. For more information, please contact the OHM at (207) 646-0296.