Courtesy of www.bestofshoware.com

The Cumberland Fair returns for it’s 140th Annual event featuring a week of fun and entertainment for all ages at the Cumberland Fairgrounds from Sunday, September 25 to Saturday, October 1, 2011.

Comedian Bob Marley will be a featured performer on Sunday, September 25 at 6:30pm, and the fair will welcome back the popular RaveX Freestyle Jumping exhibition on Wednesday, September 28, at 6pm. As always the Cumberland County Fair will feature three wrist band days where a $15 fee allows you to ride all rides on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

The Cumberland Fair wouldn’t be complete without the full list of agricultural events, or the 4th Annual Classic Car Show and Lawn Mower racing on Thursday, September 29, at 6pm and 6:30pm respectively.

For more information please check out CumberlandFair.com or visit the Cumberland Fair Facebook Fan Page.

According to VisitMaine.com, the following lighthouses and attractions will be participating in Maine Open Lighthouse Day;  (all lighthouses will be open 9:00 am to 3:00 pm unless otherwise noted)

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse – Bass Harbor on Mount Desert Island (land-based)

Browns Head Lighthouse – Vinalhaven Island (offshore)

Burnt Coat Harbor Lighthouse – Swan’s Island (offshore)

Burnt Island Lighthouse – entrance to Boothbay Harbor (offshore)

Curtis Island Lighthouse – entrance to Camden Harbor (offshore)

Deer Island Thorofare Lighthouse – Mark Island near Stonington (offshore)

Doubling Point Lighthouse – Arrowsic (land-based)

Dyce Head Lighthouse – Castine (land-based)

Fort Point Lighthouse – Cape Jellison near Stockton Springs (land-based)

Grindle Point Lighthouse – Islesboro (offshore)

Kennebec River Range Lights (two towers) – Arrowsic (land-based)

Little River Lighthouse – entrance to Cutler Harbor (offshore) 12 noon to 3:00 pm

Marshall Point Lighthouse – Port Clyde (land-based)

Monhegan Island Lighthouse – Monhegan Island (offshore) 11:00 am to 4:00 pm

Owls Head Lighthouse – Owls Head (land-based)

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse – Bristol (land-based)

Portland Breakwater Lighthouse (Bug Light) – South Portland (land-based)

Portland Head Lighthouse – Cape Elizabeth (land-based)

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse – Rockland (land-based via a breakwater)

Seguin Island Lighthouse – near entrance to Kennebec River off Popham Beach (offshore) 11:00 am to 2:00 pm

Spring Point Lighthouse – South Portland (land-based via a breakwater)

Squirrel Point Lighthouse – Arrowsic (land-based)

West Quoddy Head Lighthouse – Lubec (land-based)

Wood Island Lighthouse – Biddeford Pool (offshore)

Other Lighthouse Attractions:

Maine Lighthouse Museum - Rockland

For more information on the wonderful event that attracted over 18,000 people last year alone, please check out the Maine Open Lighthouse Day Facebook Fan Page and www.LightHouseDay.com.

Let’s continue to make this a special day, as I know many of us have seen pictures or witnessed the lighthouses and beacons from the water or land, yet have not been inside or set foot on many of these historical landmarks before. Enjoy!

Courtesy of Peter Jensen Bissell www.peterjensenbissell.com

ILovePortlandMaine.com was fortunate to sit down recently and chat with Elykssor founder, Kyle Poissonnier, to learn about his clothing business, including how he got started and where his dreams are set to take him on this journey.

Growing up in the small central Maine blue collar town of Skowhegan, Poissonnier had aspirations of playing college and professional football, which one could certainly understand given his strong and prominent athletic stature of today. Over the years, his love of sports and fashion would collide, with stints at Husson University and SUNY Albany, where Poissonnier played football and studied marketing, while simultaneously keeping a close watch on the latest trends in clothing and design. From there a fashion brand was born…Elykssor.

Elykssor, now just over three years in the business, derived its name from the medieval belief of an “elixir of life”, that would renew ones youth. According to the legend, those who drank the elixir would be granted eternal life and youth. We should also point out that “Kyle” spelled backwards appears in the name Elykssor, reminding me of my discussion with Poissonnier that he remembers his roots, believes strongly in supporting local businesses, and is true to his success and thankful of everyone who has and continues to help him achieve his dream.

Some day soon, I am sure Kyle will see his own storefront carrying the complete Elykssor line based on the compassion and drive he possesses towards his vision. Currently, there are a number of retail stores that carry the unique t-shirts, including MadWorld at 275 Commercial Street in the Old Port of Portland, Maine.

Courtesy of www.peterjensenbissell.com

For those of you not familiar with Elykssor, the brand offers unique print designs for “trendsetters”, delivering t-shirts in limited edition styles, and will soon branch out to hoodies and other wears. I was highly impressed at how attractive the t-shirts were as well as the wonderful quality. Not to mention that Kyle utilizes a local screen printer, artists, models, and photographer to capture and deliver the brand to you. A true believer in buying local and supporting local businesses…

For more information or to browse the Elykssor Collection, please visit www.elykssor.com

Portland Sea Dogs courtesy of SeaDogs.com

Your Portland Sea Dogs will Go Green for their 7pm game Friday, August 12, 2011, against the Erie SeaWolves with a couple of promotional opportunities for fans in addition to the regular national pastime excitement, the AA affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, offers day in and day out.

The first 1,000 fans through the front gate will receive a reusable shopping bag courtesy of Hannaford Supermarkets, while all fans who ride their bikes to the game will receive a Buy One Get One Offer.  (Please visit www.seadogs.com for further details on how to redeem this offer)! The fun doesn’t stop there…as a thank you to those fans taking advantage of the offer, the Sea Dogs will have a bike parade around the warning track to start the game by all fans who ride their bikes! Now how many people can say they rode their bike on Hadlock Field??

Prime Saco Honda and Prime Toyota will be displaying hybrid vehicles in the front plaza and helpful green tips will be played on the video board throughout the game!

Courtesy of strawberrysaladrecipe.com

Strawberry picking in Maine is an annual tradition for many who wish to enjoy an outdoor activity with the kids and gather berries for a strawberry pie or special dessert that has been in their family for generations. Whether that is the case for you or not, here is a list of area strawberry fields where you can pick your own strawberries.

Please be sure to call ahead as many fields tend to close for a day or so to allow for berries to ripen so that you can enjoy plump fresh berries upon your arrival.

Have an enjoyable summer and may you pick the best strawberries ever!

CAPE ELIZABETH – Maxwell’s Farm – (My personal favorite) Strawberry fields are off Two Lights Road, Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. Strawberry hotline: 799-3383

CAPE ELIZABETH – William H. Jordan Farm – 21 Wells Road, Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, Strawberry hotline: 767-2740

CAPE ELIZABETH – Alewives Brook Farm – 83 Old Ocean House Road, Route 77, Hours: 9 a.m. until sunset, usually around 7 or 7:30 p.m., Strawberry hotline: 799-7743

GORHAM – Ahlquist Farm Stand – 20 Small Pond Road, Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, Strawberry hotline: 839-4080

LIMINGTON – Doles Orchard – 187 Doles Ridge Road, Hours: 6 a.m. to noon and 5 to 8 p.m. daily, except when closed to ripen, Strawberry hotline: 793-4409

NEW GLOUCESTER – Pineland Farms/Gillespie Farms Division – 752 Mayall Road, Hours: Expects to open Thursday; call for hours. Senior discount on Wednesdays for pickers ages 62 and older, Strawberry hotline: 657-2877

NORTH BERWICK – Riverside Farm Stand and Greenhouse – Five miles north of South Berwick on Route 4, Hours: 8 a.m. to noon and 3 to 6 p.m. daily, Strawberry hotline: 676-2648

SANFORD – Lavigne Strawberry Farm – 158 Whichers Mill Road, Hours: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, Strawberry hotline: 324-5497

WELLS – Spiller Farm – 85 Spiller Farm Lane, Hours: Weather and picking conditions dictate the hours. Strawberry hotline: 985-2575

Buy, sell, or swap a bike. Bikes that you wish to sell should be dropped off between 8am and 9:30am on Sunday. The event will begin at 10am and last until 2pm. What a great opportunity to pick up a new bike for yourself and hand down your old one so that someone else can enjoy riding in the area.

This year’s swap will feature hundreds of bicycles of all kinds, a large area for test riding, exhibits by local bike shops, food and drinks for sale and more. Admission is $3, with free admission for students at the University of Maine, University of Southern Maine, University of New England and Southern Maine Community College and children 12 or younger.

A small commission on all sales supports the Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s work to improve bicycling in Maine. For more information and to see a video about the swap, please visit www.BikeMaine.org or call (207) 623-4511.

Courtesy of blog.tradetang.com

Beach to Beacon runners will soon have the chance to register for the 14th TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10k Road Race, which will take place Saturday, August 6, at 8am.  Race organizers recently announced the following race registration details ….

2011 Race Fees – 10k Road Race: $40,  10k Wheelchair/handcycle: $40,  Kids Fun Run: $5

Cape Elizabeth Residents Only Registration opens Monday, March 14, 2011 at 7am EST

• Online registration opens for Cape Elizabeth Residents only.
• First come, first serve. Limit of 600. (These spots will go QUICKLY)
• Cape Elizabeth Resident Verification
  • The credit card billing address must be a Cape Elizabeth address. Addresses will be verified by race organizers to ensure Cape Elizabeth residency.
  • Any non-resident attempting to register as a Cape Elizabeth resident will be rejected.
  • Please note: Anyone who successfully registers as a Cape Elizabeth resident who is not a Cape Elizabeth resident will be removed from the race entry database without refund.

General Public Opens Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 7am EST

• Online registration open to general public.
• First come, first serve. Limit of 4,000. (Again, these spots will go QUICK!)
• Once the limit is reach, Lottery registrations will begin immediately
  • The remaining 1,750 spots will be distributed by Lottery.
  • Provisions for couples and families will be made in the Lottery process.
    • Lottery entrants are limited to one online entry, but can include up to four registrants (bibs) in that entry. Entrants will be charged a per-person lottery fee of $5.  (1 bib=$5 lottery fee or  4 bibs=$20 lottery fee)
  • Registration for the Lottery will be held from March 15th to March 22nd.

Lottery Closes Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 11:59 pm EST.

• The Lottery Drawing will be on Wednesday, March 23rd.
• Lottery results will be sent to the registrant via email within 24 hours of drawing.
• Winners will be placed on the website.
• IMPORTANT: Winners’ credit cards will be charged IMMEDIATELY!

Transfers:

• The race will allow transfers from May 1 through June 30, 2011 at 11:59 pm EST.
• Learn more about how the transfer policy works at www.Beach2Beacon.org/TransferPolicy

On Saturday, February 12, consumers in Portland are encouraged to support the local businesses of the Portland Public Market House at 28 Monument Square between 8am and 7pm, in what Portland Greendrinks organizers are calling a “joycott”.

Yes, that’s right. Not a boycott, but a joycott, where consumers are encouraged to make an extra effort to make purchases at the Public Market House, and in return the Public Market House has made a commitment to invest the profits from the “joycott day” into making their business more environmentally friendly.

The more consumers who support the effort, the more profits available to make these improvements. Thus, a win-win situation for everyone. So please, make a trip to the Public Market House in Portland on February 12, 2011.

For more information on additional downtown Portland events during the holidays, please visit Downtown Portland Holiday events.

Three University of Southern Maine business students

In fact, two Maine schools are among the 10 student teams in the competition as three students from Bangor’s New England School of Communications (NESCOM) will put their marketing skills to the test. The 10 schools selected include; Clemson University, Florida Institute of Technology, Indiana University- South Bend, New England School of Communications, Northwood University, Syracuse University, Tulane University, University of LaVerne, University of Southern Maine, and Wayne State University