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Town of New Gloucester
385 Intervale Road, New Gloucester, ME 04260
(207) 926-4126 (phone) / (207) 926-4136 (fax)
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Town of Poland
1231 Maine Street, Poland, ME 04274
(207) 998-4601 (phone) / (207) 998-2002 (fax)
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Maine Maple Producers Weekend, October 9-11
Due to COVID-19, the Maine Maple Producers Association (MMPA) and its members postponed Maine Maple Sunday, traditionally held the fourth Sunday in March. The Association announced the event will take place October 9-11, 2020. There will be new virtual elements and in-person experiences at a variety of sugarhouses. The event will be held in conjunction with the new North American Maple Tour in the U.S. and Canada.
As part of the celebration and events, the Association announced two virtual components for 2020, including a pure Maine maple recipe contest. The contest will provide participants the opportunity to share their best recipes using pure Maine maple products in three categories -- beverage, entrée, and dessert. The Association will vote to determine the top three recipes in each category. Celebrity judges will taste the recipes and announce the winner on October 9 at the Cumberland Fair sugarhouse. The winners will receive a trophy and gift basket from the Maine Maple Producers Association. Contest entries must be received by September 20, 2020 at 12 p.m. ET. The contest rules are available at mainemapleproducers.com.
During the pandemic, and to provide an additional virtual experience, producers have started selling their products online. Several producers also now offer new pick-up options. With the new purchasing options, producers have set a goal to sell more than 10,000 gallons of maple syrup products during the North American Maple Tour from October 9-18. The new 14-day tour includes the promotion of maple products at events, breweries, distilleries, and restaurants across the Northeast.
The MMPA represents more than 240 members that are licensed maple producers. Producers range from small artisan producers to bulk syrup providers who serve major grocery store chains, foodservice distributors, and retailers.
Maine Maple Producers Association members produce 580,000 gallons annually. Their business operations generate more than $21.6 million for the Maine economy. Members of the association also support more than 560 full-time and part-time jobs that generate more than $17.3 million in wages.
Virtual Financial Aid Information Sessions
Students can apply for financial aid for the 2021-2022 academic year starting on October 1, 2020. Now is a great time to learn more about the financial aid process and how to afford higher education.
Please join FAME for one of its virtual financial aid information sessions, which will be hosted by a member of FAME's College Access Team.
During a financial aid information session, you will learn more about:
- the financial aid process and filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
- types of financial aid and tools for comparing financial aid offers;
- strategies to minimize college costs; and
- how the financial challenges resulting from COVID-19 impact the financial aid process.
Participants will also have the ability to ask questions live.
These sessions will be offered via Zoom webinar. For a list of sessions, click here.
Volunteer Maine Awarded $130K to Bolster Emergency Volunteer Response to COVID-19
Award will lead to the creation of new capacity building training for smaller community agencies in need of additional volunteer support.
New federal monies awarded to Volunteer Maine, the State service commission, will support increased training for small community organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that they can continue to serve Mainers in need. In addition, Volunteer Maine will use the funding to encourage at least 500 new volunteers willing to register to respond to emergencies through the State’s disaster volunteer response platform, MaineReady.Org.
Volunteer Maine received this funding through the George H. W. Bush Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF), an initiative established by Congress in 2009 to bolster volunteer infrastructure in critical areas. The service commission will receive its $132,958 award in October 2020. This federal investment will be matched with $47,341 in public and private funding.
Volunteer Maine will utilize the monies to:
- offer increased support to Maine's small community agencies with comprehensive volunteer management training and technical assistance;
- provide technical assistance to volunteer programs needing to re-form and re-establish volunteer activities due to COVID-19;
- support expanded emergency volunteer efforts by encouraging 500 new volunteers to respond through Org;
- provide training to agency staff around the use of Org; and
- launch a statewide public awareness campaign to promote volunteerism, thus supporting ongoing needs related to pandemic response and recovery.
Information about upcoming training opportunities will be announced in the coming weeks. Those interested can also check the Volunteer Maine Web site for updates.
For more information about Volunteer Maine, click here.
For more information about the About the Volunteer Generation Fund, click here.
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