Thank you to our supporters and volunteers for making this possible.

Thank you all  motorized and non-motorized supporters and tireless volunteers! Thank you to all the organizations and foundations, big and small who helped make this Forest Legacy Application a success.  In particular we would like to thank Senators Collins & Snowe, Representative  Mike Michaud and Maine Senator Tom Saviello!

Forest Legacy funding will pay a large portion of the cost of these two conservation projects. Next steps are currently being planned. The goal is to finish all fundraising and close these transactions in 6-8 months.  Thanks again for all of your support and please check back regularly for more updates!

We are very thankful to the National Park Service, Rivers and Trails Program for helping the High Peaks Alliance organize for life after our two year AmeriCorps volunteer, Ben Godsoe. We are preparing for the sections between Phillips and Strong and from Saddleback to Oquossoc. We welcome assistance. Please let us know how you would like to help? HPA 1232 Reeds Mill Road, Phillips, ME 04966.

Milt Baston, Andy Ward and Raynald Blair

BREWER — A contractor from Strong was named Conventional Logger of the Year at the 21st annual Certified Logging Professional awards night Thursday.

Milt Baston was presented with the award along with a $1,000 check.

“I first met Milt when he and I were both starting out, when he was logging with horses,” said Peter Tracy, a licensed forester from Farmington, who nominated Baston.

Tracy has been a licensed consulting forester since 1983 and assists nonindustrial private woodland owners in managing lots.

Baston was one of three to receive an award. Chopper One owner Raynold Blair of Eagle Lake received the supervisor/contractor award and Andy Ward of Chester, an employee of Treeline, received the mechanical contractor award.

Sponsored by the Maine Timber Research and Environmental Education Foundation, Certified Logging Professional works to reduce logging-related accidents and the corresponding increase in workers compensation costs. Whether loggers are mechanical harvesters, who operate large equipment, or self-employed contractors, who use only a chain saw and work on smaller jobs, insurance costs have an impact on them.

The program trains loggers, property owners, environmental experts and safety management specialists to promote workplace safety, according to CLP Board President Justin Merrill.

“Since 1991, 5,800 people have gone through the CLP training program,” he said. “Now we are being asked to train Canadian loggers, because we have a program that works.”

Franklin is the most heavily forested county in Maine. And Maine is the most heavily forested state with 89 percent of it covered by trees.

Valerie Tucker, Special to the Sun Journal, story and picture

Selectmen Rupert Pratt (left to right) and Milt Baston join Mary Ann Hayes, Maine Rural Partners’ Executive Director; and David Dixon Strong’s Harness the Wealth team member and 2012 MRP Board Chairman for a recent celebration. Strong was selected as MRP’s Partner of the Year for its energy innovations and community improvement efforts. (Maine Rural Partners photo)

Maine Rural Partners

Summer Volunteers at the All Trails Celebration this Summer

PHILLIPS -  The High Peaks Alliance and Sandy River Land Trust co-hosted five youth volunteers from Mt Abram High School this summer, to work on the new Fly Rod Crosby Trail. The volunteers worked a minimum of 35 or 60 hours and received a $500 or $300 award after finishing their service. The award is intended to help them pursue future education or work experience in the environmental field.

This is the second year that this summer volunteer program has been in place. In 2010 the High Peaks Alliance and Sandy River Land Trust hosted one summer volunteer: Devin Littlefield. This year he came back again and was joined by Danny Roy, Quincy Mittman, Sadie James and Jay Chenard. Four out of the five students live in the Unorganized Territories, where current trail work is taking place, and all attended Mt Abram High School. Their duties included assistance in trail planning, design and construction. They worked on GPS/GIS skills and did initial research that will help create interpretive materials for the Fly Rod Crosby Trail (such as signs pointing out historical points of interest along the way).

“This is by far one of the most rewarding projects we have been involved in,” said Lloyd Griscom, who is involved with both the High Peaks Alliance and Sandy River Land Trust. “One of our priorities is to create opportunities for local youth to get involved in trails and outdoor activities.”

The five summer youth volunteer positions were made possible through funding by Poland Spring, the Maine Department of Conservation Recreational Trails Program, Adult and Community Education and the Maine Conservation Corps. The Sandy River Land Trust and High Peaks Alliance would like to thank these supporters for making this program possible.

The last two work days are October 22nd and October 29th!

1)      Oct 22^nd meet at 9:30am in the field below the Star Barn B&B.

Directions: take rt 4 to Madrid Village, cross the Sandy River on Reeds Mill Road and go approximately 4.5 miles. Star Barn is on your left, please park in the field below the B&B.

We will be clearing brush, building bog bridges (keeps hikers out of the mud in boggy areas) and clipping the trail corridor.

2)      October 29^th (rain day October 30^th) meet at Saddback Mountain Resort, 9:30am at the end of the Rock Pond Condo’s road

October 29^th, Volunteers should meet at Saddleback Mountain Resort at the end of the Rock Pond Condos road. To get there just follow the access road past the lodge and take your first left up hill, proceed to the end of the road and park. We will be brushing out an old foot path and hiking in to Eddy Pond for Lunch.   

What to bring….

1)      Sturdy boots, work gloves and clothing (long pants)

2)      Lunch and plenty of water

3)      Loppers/Clippers if you have them (if not we will provide)

4)      A smile!