Maine Gas Prices Dip Below National Average

Gas prices in Maine dropped about 7.4 cents in the past week, falling below the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline, which was unchanged at $2.42.

The latest dip brings the statewide average for Maine of $2.37, which is $1.24 lower than one year ago, according to the gas price tracking website GasBuddy. The American Automobile Association's daily state-level gas price report put Maine's statewide average slightly higher at $2.39.

Patrick DeHaan, a senior petroleum analyst with GasBuddy, said in a news release that gas price trends "are all over the place" in different parts of the country. A strike at California refineries neared a close with a tentative deal announced in early March.

Those tensions come as crude oil reserves neared record levels at the beginning of the month, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The slight dip in prices in Maine also comes as refineries continue to shift to production of the more costly and lower-emission summer blend fuels.

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Mental Health in the Workplace: Prevention, Early Intervention, and Employee Assistance Programs

Roughly 10 percent of the US adult population suffer from a depressive disorder in a given year. Mental health issues are estimated to cause 200 million lost workdays and low productivity that costs employers up to $44 billion. With the continued complaints of overwork and stress, this issue is unlikely to dissipate. A panel of experts will address mental health issues in the workplace, the role of employers and human resource professionals, prevention, intervention, signs to look for, substance abuse, rehabilitation and use of Employee Assistance Programs.

Learn more about these issues in a free webinar on Wed, Apr 15, 1:00 to  2:00 pm. 

Click here to register.
 

Maine Home Sales Increase in Typically Slow February

Single-family home sales rose more than 13 percent in February compared to the same month in 2014, a sharp rise for the month that's typically the state's slowest for home sales.

The increase in sales volume paired with a rise in median sales prices, according to figures from the Maine Realtors Association. Median sale prices rose through most of 2013 and stayed even or declined for most of last year.

Marie Flaherty, president of the Maine Association of Realtors, said a slight increase in median prices for December, January and February signal that the market is stabilizing.

"This is an indication of how cautious buyers have been, compared to past recovering markets," Flaherty said.

A total of 732 Maine homes changed hands in February, up from 646 one year earlier. The median price rose to $167,400 for the month, up from $160,000 one year earlier.

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Not so, especially if you know that what you are seeing is to benefit the Lincoln County Animal Shelter.  Kelly Brook took her camera to Africa and managed to shoot dozens of stunningly beautiful photos of birds, elephants, hippos, lions, tigers, giraffes, etc., and then had the images digitally developed and processed onto metal, resulting in artwork with vibrancy and exquisite definition.

Brook has offered them for sale to benefit the animal shelter, because every wild animal 'adopted' in an image will help defray the everyday rising costs of vet bills and funds needed to keep the shelter up to code on maintenance and repairs.  These images of the wild animals in Botswana and Zimbabwe will be on exhibit from Mar 25 to May 4 at Savory Maine Restaurant in Damariscotta, with an opening reception on Fri, Apr 3 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.

This is a special exhibit!  Brook has priced the pieces affordably and has generously donated her time as well as her expenses, so all the proceeds from sales will go directly to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter.  The shelter paws are out as usual, but the intent of the artist is to call attention not only to the animals at the shelter but to remind us that the wild ones are in danger, too, here in the 21st century.

One might ask, What can one person do to save the wild species in Africa?  Of course one can send monies to causes and lead environmental safaris and such.  But to personalize the individual contribution to this benefit, visitors to this exhibition are being asked to help save the animals in need in our own back yard.  The hope is that participation and awareness may inexplicably reach far beyond the Lincoln County Shelter doors.

The arts have always played a significant role in bringing awareness to causes, in this instance by making the connection that all animals must be treasured as sentient beings.  Please visit the wild ones on exhibit at Savory Maine, take one home with you, and help support the many needs of the Lincoln County Animal Shelter.

An opening reception for Brook will be held on Fri, Apr 2, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.  Savory Maine will provide delectable sweet and savory finger foods and wine will be available, compliments of the artist.  The public is invited.
Savory Maine is located at 11 Water Street and is open five days a week, serving lunch and dinner from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm Thurs through Mon.  The restaurant sources most of its food from Maine, and essentially all of it is organically grown, wild harvested, or grass fed.

For more information call 563-2111, 'like' Savory Maine on Facebook.

Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs

Audiences are invited to enjoy an intimate, behind-the-scenes documentary about this acclaimed exhibition with contributions from people who knew Matisse and experts such as curators, historians, and Tate director Nicholas Serota and MoMA director Glenn D. Lowry. Plus there are breathtaking, specially commissioned performances by Royal Ballet principal dancer Zenaida Yanowsky and jazz musician Courtney Pine. Acclaimed British actor Simon Russell Beale brings insight and emotion to the words of Henri Matisse himself, while actor Rupert Young (Merlin) narrates. Playing at Lincoln Theater in Damariscotta on Sun, Mar 29, at 2:00 pm.