You may have seen in the news last week about the “fee holiday” at Maine State Parks. Because Maine has seen significant attendance levels at our parks over the last few years, Gov. LePage has waived day use fees for Maine residents at our parks and historic sites from Aug. 11 through Sept. 3. I think this is a great way for the state to give back to the people who support our parks.
There are several wonderful state parks close to Gorham that you can now access for free during the day. These parks include Sebago Lake State Park in Casco, Range Pond State Park in Poland, Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal, Vaughan Woods State Park in South Berwick and Ferry Beach State Park in Saco. I hope you are able to take advantage of this opportunity to explore parts of our great state this summer.
As you head off to enjoy our great outdoors, please be aware that the free admission is for day use and does not include camping fees. There are several locations where the free admission is not in effect, including Scarborough Beach State Park, Acadia National Park, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Baxter State Park, Peacock Beach, the Maine Wildlife Park, Swan Island, Fort Knox Historic Site, the Penobscot River Corridor or the Penobscot Narrows Observatory in Prospect and Songo Lock.
As a word of caution, I urge folks to take steps to prevent the spread of Lyme disease. According to the Maine CDC, we had 1,769 cases of Lyme disease reported in 2017. There are several steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones. The CDC recommends wearing long sleeves and light colored clothing, which makes it easier to spot ticks on you, and performing daily tick checks after being outdoors. They also suggest using EPA approved repellants such as deet on your clothing and shoes. Additional tick-related information can be found at www.maine.gov/lyme.
I am also excited to highlight the new METRO transit service between Gorham, Westbrook and Portland. Over the last six years, I have heard time and again the interest in public transportation to get to and from Portland, and locations in between. That day has finally arrived. The service begins at the end of this month, and you can view the route map and schedule by going to gorham-me.org and clicking on the information about the Metro service. This is really exciting and I hope you have the chance to take advantage of the new service. The Husky Line will be open to all riders and is ADA compliant. Should you have questions, you can call METRO at 207-774-0351 for the hours of operation, fare rates and other inquiries.
It is hard to believe it is already the middle of August. I hope that you are able to enjoy the rest of your summer. As always, please feel free to contact me with your questions and concerns. I also send out periodic e-mail updates throughout the year. If you would like to receive these updates, please let me know by e-mailing me.
Rep. Andrew McLean, D-Gorham, is serving his third term in the Maine House. He is House chair of the Transportation Committee and represents parts of both Gorham and Scarborough.
(207) 939-8482 | (800) 423-2900 | andrew.mclean@legislature.maine.gov