The Maine Sierran

Register Now For Sierra Club Maine Winter Outings

Squirrel Point and Bald Head Hike
Sunday, December 16, 1:00 pm

Enjoy views of the Kennebec River at the historic Squirrel Point Lighthouse, and a walk through Nature Conservancy land to views of the Back River atop Bald Head. This is about a five-mile walk with some elevation. Depending upon ground conditions, you may need foot traction or snowshoes. To register please click here.

Morse Mountain Winter Hike
Saturday, January 12, 10:00am

A great wintertime adventure up a gated road with minimal winter maintenance. We may see the White Mountains from the top of Morse Mountain (180 ft above sea level) and head down to Sewall Beach and enjoy the panoramic views of the ocean and off shore islands. The hills can be extremely slick and icy in the winter. I
recommend both grippers on your feet like micro-spikes and a walking stick or ski pole for extra stability. When the wind is up, the beach can be very cold, so bring an extra layer of warmth so that you can enjoy walking up the beach. Join us for an optional pot luck lunch at the leader’s house afterwards. To register click here.

Sierra Club Maine is excited to partner with the SunriseGuide to raise funds for our chapter. Produced and published right here in Maine, the SunriseGuide is the guide to living well in Maine. It's a collection of helpful articles, tips, and ideas to inspire, educate and inform. And with hundreds of discounts for Maine’s favorite local businesses, you'll start saving money right away! In fact, you can save hundreds of dollars with the discounts in the SunriseGuide, while supporting the great local businesses that we know and love. There's something that will appeal to everyone, including discounts for dining out, groceries, yoga, massage, garden centers, home improvements and pets! Highlights include the Holy Donut, Otto Pizza, Brunswick Hotel & Tavern, Longfellow Books, Lots for Tots, Island Treasure Toys, Forget Me Nots, Local 188, Flatbread Pizza, Salt Pump Climbing, Caravan Beads, Maine Hardware, Float Harder and many more! Find the full list here.

Choose print ($20) or mobile ($14.95), or a bundle of both ($29.95). Sierra Club Maine earns up to 50 percent of all purchases made through this sale from now through January 18th, 2019.

Copies of the SunriseGuide are available at the Sierra Club Office in Portland. To order online click here: https://thesunriseguide.com/mysierraclub/.

Voting for Sierra Club Maine Executive Committee candidates ends December 28. All Chapter members are encouraged to cast their vote for up to four of the below candidates by going to the Chapter website - https://www.sierraclub.org/maine . The 11-member Executive Committee manages the affairs and activities of the Chapter, including setting priorities and supervising and evaluating staff members.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CANDIDATES:

Beverly Roxby, Belfast - two-year term
Current Executive Committee member, educator, activist, Belfast Climate Committee member, and member of the Climate Action Advisory Team.
“I'm running for re-election to Sierra Club Maine's Executive Committee because of our chapter's increasing involvement in local sustainability projects, both as organizer and as ally. I feel gratified to be a part of a growing network of communities committed to achieving 100 percent clean renewable energy, and Sierra Club Maine has been in the forefront of building this network.”

Kim Ervin Tucker, Lincolnville - two-year term
Attorney - Sierra Club experience working on Sears Island LPG tank proposal and as legal advisor to the Chapter’s political team in 2016.
“I would like to be part of Sierra Club’s efforts to fight to protect our air, water, forests, and coasts in Maine. We are at a crucial crossroads in this country and this state. We see the devastating effects of climate change impacting our state and threatening traditional ways of life in coastal and inland communities. While the LePage and Trump administrations have denied the existence of climate change and have undone decades of
environmental protections to benefit fossil fuel companies, Sierra Club has pushed back against these efforts. I would like to take an active role in Sierra Club's efforts.”

Kelsey Halliday Johnson, Portland - two-year term
Director, Space Gallery.
“While I come from the creative sphere, I originally pursued studies in geosciences at Princeton and have been deeply committed to issues of environmental and social justice. I work with artists as they imagine new futures and critically investigate our current planet, however I am eager to continue to heighten my involvement as a volunteer for environmental organizations and grassroots movements that directly advocate for the betterment of our communities and world. With a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion, I appreciate that the Sierra Club has become a national leader in tackling these issues within the environmental movement and would love to help consider how that impacts the Maine Chapter. I grew up in a nuclear and extended family deeply involved with the Sierra Club, and have previously worked as a canvassing campaign coordinator for NJPIRG/Sierra Club for two summers in college. Most recently I worked as an ICO outing leader with middle school age youth in Philadelphia regional parks.”

Dot Kelly, Phippsburg—two-year term
Former Director of Energy and Environmental Services for a major chemical manufacturer and current Sierra Club Maine Executive Committee member.
“I became a citizen of Maine in 2014 and have been involved locally on the Bath Climate Action Team, the Phippsburg Conservation Commission, and the Phippsburg Land Trust. I also advocate on environmental and energy issues at the Public Utility Commission, the Department of Environmental Protection and at the legislative committees on energy and environmental protection. I was asked to join the Executive Committee of Sierra Club Maine last year to fill an open seat and am now co-chair of the Sierra Club Maine Energy Team. I am grateful to be asked to continue as an Executive Committee member to help guide Sierra Club Maine’s advocacy work, implement Sierra Club policies, and help our Chapter thrive as an organization.”

Drafty windows? High heating bills? Nonprofit Window Dressers is helping Mainers with these problems. The insulating window inserts built at Window Dresser workshops fit inside of existing windows to let sunlight in while keeping more heat inside your home. The inserts are low-cost and high quality because they are built at barn- raising-style community workshops across Maine.

Please consider volunteering with other Sierra Club and 350.com Greater Portland members in support of the City of South Portland’s Window Dressers’efforts. Volunteers are needed from Friday, January 4 to Saturday, January 12, 2019 (not including Sunday, January 6) at Southern Maine Community College. On Saturday, January 5, Sierra Club Maine will be serving lunch. The goal is to build 300 insulating window inserts - 22 percent of which will be for low-income households. Volunteers are needed ahead of the build for various important roles.

Volunteers are especially needed for the following dates:
Tuesday, Jan. 8: 8:30 a.m - 12:30 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 9: both shifts
Thursday, Jan. 10: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

To volunteer: Jessica Williams LC, South Portland Window Dressers Community Workshop 207-831-8439
Window Dressers expects to coordinate more than 20 community builds throughout Maine in 2019. Find out more by visiting http://windowdressers.org.