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Friday, March 25, 2016
Volume 12 • Issue No. 13
Sugarhouses Open this Weekend for Maine Maple Sunday STATEWIDE Commissioner Walt Whitcomb has formally announced that Maine has adopted the international grading system for maple syrup. This standard to take effect, comes in advance of this year’s Maine Maple Sunday, held Sunday, March 27, 2016. Most Maine producers have already implemented the voluntary standards in hopes of providing consumers with a better understanding of the natural product they are buying. Maple Sunday is held annually, every fourth Sunday of the month. Participating sugarhouses will be open for visitors to enjoy freshly made maple syrup and candy, demonstrations of syrup production, sugarbush tours and a variety of other family activities. The voluntary standards announced by Commissioner Whitcomb are designed to match those used by other countries in order to give consumers standardized information for selecting maple syrup. It is in response to a 2010 petition from the International Maple Syrup Institute,
Index
Page
Arts & Entertainment 15-17 Business & Finance 19 Calendar of Events 13 Classifieds 39-41 Computer Lady 42 Health & Fitness 20-25 Home & Business 36-38 Library News 12 Obituaries 34 Pets 35 Puzzles 46 Real Estate 32-33,48 Sports 43 Where To Dine 26-31
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consumers to follow,� said Whitcomb. “Customers benefit from a system that more accurately portrays what they are buying and how it tastes. Retailers can also more easily choose the grades they want to stock based on customer preferences.�
Chase Farm in Wells collects sap to make maple syrup during Maple Syrup weekend, March 26-27.
an organization of producers in the United States and Canada. “The new system, utilized
by most Maine producers, combines 4-5 different systems into one standard that is easier for
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See MAPLE page 7...
“The Love Note� An Anti-Bullying Musical YORK York Middle School presents the original anti-bullying musical "The Love Note", supporting positive parenting and inspiring independent youth, on Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1, 7 p.m., at York Middle School, 30 Organug Road, York. Tickets are $5, available at the door. "The Love Note", a coming-of-age pre-teen musical, written by playwright/composer Gail Phaneuf, with orchestrations by Chris Cho, is directed by Bob Carbone, with music direction by Susan Frank, choreography by Nina Morse. The musical follows young Jessie on a spirited journey at a new school, where she attempts
Playwright/composer Gail Phaneuf and Orchestrator Chris Cho (center) visit with the cast of “The Love Note� at York Middle School. (courtesy image)
to navigate the lunchroom bullies, a new crush and learning how to stand up for herself.
With a lively cast of characters and a rousing score, "The Love Note" explores the trials
of being ‘the new kid’, learning See MUSICAL page 23...
Couple from Wells Win Wedding of the Year WELLS Michelle White and Justin Perry from Wells, are the winners of the 2016 Real Maine Wedding of the Year contest! The couple will immediately start planning their $100,000 dream wedding, which will be held in York, this October. Michelle and Justin were one of 36 couples that created a 2-minute entry video on why they wanted to be married in York. They were one of three finalists who gathered at the
Maine Wedding Association Freeport Wedding Show on Sunday for the announcement of the winners. Justin, who has stage 4 lung cancer and Michelle are elated, and can’t wait to start planning their wedding event with the team from Real Maine Weddings. “We are overwhelmed and so incredibly thankful for the support we have received,� Michelle says. “This wedding is See WEDDING page 12...
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Maine Maple Statistics: 545,000 gallons were produced last year, worth $17.4 million. Maine’s industry has an annual statewide economic contribution, including multiplier effects, of an estimated $48.7
million in output, 805 full-and part-time jobs, and $25.1 million in labor income. Maine has the third largest syrup industry in this country. Maine has the largest maple producing county in the country – Somerset County. Maine has around 1.4 million taps. On the local front, the steam and sweet aroma of sap turning to syrup fill the sugar shack at Chase Farms in Wells. Rick
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