Gallivan launches Acadia
Park app for iPhone, iPad

YARMOUTH — Kerry Gallivan of Yarmouth, founder of Chimani, LLC, has developed and launched the Chimani Acadia app, a comprehensive guide to Acadia National Park for the iPhone and iPad.

The app, now available for purchase on iTunes, is designed to work off-line without any cell phone connection and is an all-in-one guide to Acadia National Park.

In addition to general and operational park information, the Chimani Acadia app includes over 300 points of interest, and features a custom-made GPS-enabled map, a 35-minute audio tour of the Park Loop Road, projected sunrise/sunset data, projected tidal data, schedules for the Island Explorer shuttle bus and an updated list of the park’s Ranger-led events.

For more information, please visit chimani.com, or search iTunes using key words “Chimani Acadia.”

Unum, Sea Dogs team up
to honor local teachers
 
PORTLAND — Unum and the Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education teamed up with the Portland Sea Dogs to honor nine local teachers as the Unum Teachers’ Hall of Fame “Starting 9.”

The “Starting 9” is an event sponsored by Unum to recognize educators across the state for their dedication and service to students.

Local teachers nominated for the “Starting 9” are Andrew Lupien of South Portland High School and Judy Stanhope of Scarborough High School.

The manager of this year’s “Starting 9” is the Maine Teacher of the Year, Kevin Grover of Lunt School in Falmouth.
 
The celebration was held at Hadlock Field on June 19, where each teacher received a personalized Sea Dogs jersey, $500 award, Sea Dogs tickets, and the opportunity to throw out a ceremonial first pitch during the on-field presentation prior to the game.

UNE to house Maine-
Harvard research center

PORTLAND — University of New England’s Center for Community and Public Health will serve as the new home of The Maine-Harvard Prevention Research Center.

The MHPRC works with local and statewide partners to conduct research, education and training aimed at reducing obesity, improving nutrition and increasing physical activity for children and adults.  

Over the next year, the MHPRC will evaluate Maine’s first-in-the-nation law to prohibit junk food advertising in school.

It will also expand its current worksite wellness initiative, a collaborative with Harvard-based researchers to develop new obesity research and policy initiatives, and expand a child care center physical activity and nutrition program.  

The Center for Community and Public Health is located on UNE’s Portland campus.

Florence House up for
affordable housing award

PORTLAND  — Avesta Housing’s Florence House has been nominated as a finalist in the 2010 Readers’ Choice Award of the Affordable Housing Finance magazine.

Affordable Housing Finance magazine readers can vote for the overall winner at housingfinance.com from July 16 through Aug. 13.

Florence House is a $7.7 million supportive housing development that uses modern technologies and sustainable design features including a geothermal heating and cooling system, solar water pre-heat, and heat recovery systems. It provides independent apartments, safe haven spaces and emergency beds to homeless individuals in Portland.

Avesta Housing is the first affordable housing developer from Maine to be named a finalist for this award.

New Ventures

Portland designer Hannah Tarkinson, along with Sonya Tomlinson and Kelly McGinty, have opened the doors to their fashion studio, Ponomo, at the State Theater building on 142 High St., Suite 307 in Portland. Ponomo features original jewelry, handbags, and accessories crafted from re-purposed and reconstructed vintage materials.
 
The Chebeague Island Inn re-opened May 14 under the new ownership of the Prentice family of Yarmouth. The Inn will continue to offer a quintessential coastal Maine experience, revitalized with an updated interior decor, expanded amenities and a new restaurant. For reservation and rate information, visit chebeagueislandinn.com or call 846-5155.

The Creative Portland Corporation has launched a new website, LiveWorkPortland.org, dedicated to growing the creative economy and supporting creative entrepreneurs of Portland. A unique feature of the website is multimedia interviews with nationally recognized individuals who have chosen to live and/or locate their creative business in Portland.

Camp Ketcha in Scarborough is expanding its school year program offerings with a new preschool program to begin in fall 2010. The Hearth and Home Montessori Preschool program will be a morning preschool from 9 a.m. to noon, with a choice of two, three or five sessions. The affordably priced program will enroll up to 14 children and will have 2 teachers. For more information or to set up a time to meet the lead teacher,  please call Camp Ketcha at 883-8977 ext. 107 or visit campketcha.org/montessori.

Mexicali Blues has opened an additional location in the Old Port across the street from its current location at 9 Moulton St., Portland. The new store will be devoted to showcasing its gemstone and sterling silver jewelry. The original store will continue to offer responsibly imported clothing, jewelry, and decor, with newly installed dressing rooms, shelving units and displays.

Heron Point Gallery, located at the corner of Middle and Market Streets in the Old Port,  has been joined by jeweler Dan Dostie as a gallery partner. Dostie has closed his Milk Street location and brings an extensive collection of gold and silver jewelry. The Gallery will continue to showcase glass art by Bonnie Faulkner, and also welcomes three new gallery associate artists, Stephen Lanzalotta, Avery Pierce, and Abbigail Hinds-Aldrich.

The Scarborough Economic Development Corporation, SEDCO, has launched its new website, ScarboroughEconomicDevelopment.com. IC Solutions of Scarborough designed and completed the website to enable better communication to and between Scarborough businesses. Highlights of the new SEDCO website are a searchable database of business properties for sale or lease, and a searchable, interactive business directory.

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Johnny Rockets is now open in downtown Freeport’s Village Station. The restaurant, known for it’s hand-dipped shakes, burgers, fries, barstools  jukeboxes, and dancing waitstaff, is open daily from 10 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. Free parking is available in the attached underground garage. This is the first Johnny Rockets franchise to open in Maine. A second franchise  is scheduled to open in the Maine Mall food court in mid-July. 

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