by John Maguire
Coastal Journal staff

BRUNSWICK — Eighty people competed in a series of strenuous physical routines during a competition at the Crossfit321 fitness center on Saturday, September 17, raising $13,000 for military personnel and their families. The "Fight Gone Bad" competition took place at other CrossFit gymnasiums in locations throughout the United States and Europe.

Members of Halls' Extreme Physical Fitness team from Bath were there to compete with athletes who came from as far as Portland late that morning. Lisa Hall, co-owner of Hall's Olympic Martial Arts Center in Bath, detective sergeants Robert Savary and David Beauregard from the Bath Police Dept., and others from the area raised money for the cause and participated in one of many 17-minute heats that ran throughout the day.

by John Maguire
Coastal Journal staff

HARPSWELL — Mitchell Field, the site of a former Naval fuel depot now zoned for marine business is being eyed for an on-land aquaculture center that produces no waste and grows multiple marine species. Chris Heinig, the CEO of Harpswell Oceanic Center will speak about his company's proposed project during a Sebascodegan Garden Club-sponsored presentation at the Curtis Library in Brunswick on October 6.

Middle Bay stretches out from the land on Harpswell Neck where many residents come to exercise their dogs and take a stroll. The massive pier and buildings on the 119-acre property, which the town acquired from the federal government in 2001, now stand empty. But as described in a company power point presentation, the Center would convert a portion of the land into working waterfront, providing employment and income for the town, and would be a resource for research and education.

In addition to the aquaculture production, the company's proposal calls for a visitor center and research facilities.

Dr. Renae Moran, state tree fruit specialist, speaks with Commissioner Walter Whitcomb of the Maine Dept. of Agriculture during the third annual New England Apple Day, Sept. 7.by John Maguire
Coastal Journal staff

Rodney Bailey, who runs Bailey's Orchard on the North Hunts Meadow Road in Whitefield with his wife, Kay, credits good pollination and warm summer weather as reasons for their bigger-than-usual apple crop this year. Wednesday, September 7, was the third annual New England Apple Day, celebrated across the region, according to the Maine State Pomological Society, an organization formed in 1873 to promote fruit culture.

"We survived the hail storm and hurricane Irene," Bailey said. "This is probably going to be one of our biggest crops."

Members of the Pomological Society met with Maine Commissioner of Agriculture Walter Whitcomb as he toured three inland farms that produce apples, to discuss this year's crop and as part of the annual celebration. Whitcomb's tour also came as a precursor to Maine Apple Sunday on September 11. Gov. Paul LePage proclaimed the special day in time for local orchards to open with entertainment and refreshments, promoting the year's bountiful harvest.

by John Maguire
Coastal Journal staff

By Thursday, September 15, Mie and Steven Athearn and fellow "Walk for Fukushima" supporters will have reached York from their hometown of Rockland, on their way to the Japanese Consulate in Boston.

They are walking the nearly 200 miles to seek protection for the children of the Fukushima, Japan area from exposure to radiation, and to raise awareness of the hazards of nuclear power.

Six months have passed since the March 11 tsunami and earthquake, and in a recent press release, Steven says his wife Mie's family members are now experiencing "heightened stresses" relating to the radioactive material escaping the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.