More consequences of a changing climate...

Nordic skiing faces uncertain future in southern and central Maine

Molly Enking, Maine Public
January 22, 2025

"After 30 years offering cross-country skiing on its network of trails, #SmilingHillFarm made the tough decision this winter to permanently end the skiing program.

"The farm has been in Michael Knight's family for over 300 years. He used to groom the trails with his father.

" 'We'd get up at 10 o'clock, 11 o'clock at night and groom all night long,' Knight recalls. And it was good to be out in nature and in the evening. I always looked across the snow on a cold night, and it just sparkles when the light hits it. I always called it diamonds in the snow.'

"But despite his love for the sport, Knight says it's just not viable anymore. Last winter, the farm saw just one good day of skiing. Between grooming, hiring employees, and maintaining rental equipment, Cross-country skiing hasn't brought in a profit for the farm in over five years.

" 'Hey, we're in the middle of January, and you need a good five or six weeks of revenue coming into this place in order to make that pay for itself. And I'm smart enough to realize it ain't working.' "

Read more:
https://www.wbur.org/news/2025/01/22/nordic-skiing-climate-change-no-snow

#ClimteChange #ClimateDiaryMaine #NoSnow #Maine

Saw a piece about this on the local news...

#SmilingHillFarm (post from FB): "Because of the drought, we have been moving our cows around to different pastures… in search of green grass. We cannot recall the last time the cows grazed in the shadow of our Big Red Barn. The fields are just that dry… and not growing fast enough to sustain them. 😢 "

#MaineDrought #Drought #NewEnglandDrought #ClimateChange #SmallFarms #FamilyFarms #MaineFarms

What's on my mind? Why #SmilingHillFarm! And yeah, I suspect #MTA / #MDOT is going to try and build the #GorhamConnector again, since the bill to kill the connector failed. I heard the new Maine Turnpike Authority director on WMPG earlier today. It sounds like they are going to have MDOT push the connector through -- rather than build #LightRail or a #RapidTransitBusSystem or safer #BikeLanes! smh...

#Maine - Bill to kill Gorham Connector crashes in committee

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 8, 2025

"A bill that would ensure the controversial Gorham Connector proposal is dead was soundly rejected by the Legislature’s transportation committee this week. LD 1020 would repeal 2017 legislation that directed the Maine Turnpike Authority to plan and build a toll highway extension from South Portland, through Scarborough and Westbrook, to Gorham. The bill follows the authority’s announcement in March that it enlisted the Maine Department of Transportation to consider alternative solutions to commuter traffic congestion west of Portland. Neither agency has said the connector proposal has been dropped entirely."

https://www.restore.org/maineenvironews/2025/5/9/bill-to-kill-gorham-connector-crashes-in-committee

#SaveTheFarms #SaveSmilingHillFarm #GorhamConnector #InducedSprawl #SaveRedBrook #Maine #InducedDemand#ProtectTheWetlands #BrookTrout #HuskyLine #RapidBusTransit #MainersForSmarterTransportation

YES! VICTORY! Public pushback makes a difference!

#MaineTurnpikeAuthority drops controversial #GorhamConnector project

by WGME Staff Thu, March 6th 2025 at 7:56 PM

GORHAM (WGME) – "The Maine Turnpike Authority is now dropping its controversial Gorham connector project.

"The project would have built a new highway from South Portland to Gorham, with the goal of easing heavy road congestion.

"The MTA paused the project last year after receiving backlash from local residents.

"The project would have required the demolition of nearly a dozen homes and confiscation of #farmland."

"'There was a lot of concern, and people wondered if it's the right-sized tool for the job, a lot of people have concerns that, building another highway, there's concerns that it will just fill up,' MTA Director of Communications Erin Courtney said.

The MTA says it's heading back to the drawing board to re-examine traffic conditions and review past mobility studies to find better ways to ease congestion in the area." [Like #LightRail, #RapidTransitBusLines and more #BikeLanes!]

https://wgme.com/news/local/maine-turnpike-authority-drops-controversial-gorham-connector-project-south-portland
#Maine #SaveSmilingHillFarm #SmilingHillFarm #InducedSprawl #GorhamConnector #MainersForSmarterTransportation #Maine #MaineNews #GorhamBypass #GorhamSpur #Maine #RapidTransit #SaveTheFarms #ProtectTheForest #InducedDemand #Sprawl #SaveRedBrook #ProtectTheWetlands #BrookTrout #SaveTheForest #Wildlife #HuskyLine #RapidBusTransit