VIDEO and GALLERY: Thomaston Celebrates The Fourth of July

Busy Holiday Week Expected on Turnpike

Portland, Maine - The Maine Turnpike Authority is gearing up for a busy holiday week, with an expected growth in traffic of 1.25 percent over last year’s Independence Day travel.  More than 615,000 vehicles are anticipated to travel the Maine Turnpike between Friday and Saturday alone.  “With the 4th falling on a Tuesday, it changes the flow of outgoing traffic,” said Turnpike Authority spokeswoman, Erin Courtney.  “While we expect northbound traffic to be heavy Friday and Saturday, when people leave will vary.  Some will go home Monday, some will leave Tuesday, and others will have taken the whole week off and will head south next weekend,” she said.

Beginning as early as 12:00 PM on Friday (today) traffic northbound is expected to be heavy, with the peak hours between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM.  Traffic on Saturday northbound is expected to be heavy between the hours of 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

From January through May 2017, the turnpike has seen a 2.4% growth in traffic compared to the same period in 2016.  2016 marked the busiest year in Maine Turnpike history. With heavy traffic expected on the road, the MTA is urging motorists to be aware of peak times, plan accordingly, and drive safely over the long holiday weekend.

Motorists traveling through the York Toll Plaza over the Holiday weekend can also pick up their copy of the Maine Public Radio “Guide to Road Trip Games” booklet.  The guide is filled with fun games to play in the car as well as safe driving tips provided by its sponsors, Maine’s Credit Unions, Goodwin’s Volvo, Maine Turnpike Authority and Maine Public Broadcasting Network.  The guides will be distributed northbound at all four mainline toll plazas on Friday afternoon and will be available in both directions on Saturday between 10 AM and 2 PM.

Thomaston Fourth of July Events Set

Thomaston, Maine - The town of Thomaston has set the events to take place on Saturday, July 4th, 2015 in Thomaston, Maine celebrating the Fourth of July.

Events to include parade up Main Street, 5k Road Race, Pet Show and Fireworks, to name a few.

Events planned listed out below:

7:00 AM Pancake Breakfast
Breakfast will be served in the Masonic Temple located on Main Street in Thomaston.

7:00 AM Kids One Mile Fun Race & 5K Firecracker Race Sign Up
Sign up for the races will be on Beechwood Street by Route One.
7:00 - 8:00 am.
In front of Water Dog Tavern
Free entry for kids under age 12 and tee-shirt prizes. 5K Firecracker Race entry fees
Pre-register online @www.runinarace.com/Firecracker/index.html

8:00 AM One Mile Fun Race Starts
Fun Race will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Beechwood Street.

8:30 AM 5K Firecracker Race Starts
Starts on Beechwood Street.

9:00 AM Craft Tent Opens
Craft Tent open until 4:00 PM and will be located behind the Masonic Temple Building.

8:30 AM Parade Staging
Staging area for the parade will be located by the town cemetery in Thomaston. The theme is "May the 4th Be With You!". For a parade application, email info@thomaston4thofjuly.com .
OR, download the cover letter: and parade application

9:15 AM Pet Show
Volunteers Naomi Howe and Steve Seekins return to run the Pet Show!
Pet Show will be located behind the Thomaston Business Block, in front of Lura Libby School. Loyal Biscuit sponsors the show prizes - special treat/goodie bags for pets. Thank you to all!

11:00 AM 4th of July Parade
Staging area for the parade will be by the town cemetery in Thomaston. Gather at 8:30am...for a parade application, email info@thomaston4thofjuly.com.
OR: download the cover letter: and parade application

2015 Grand Marshal:
John Vigue heads up the 2015 parade with the theme of "May the 4th Be With You!"

The parade will stage by the cemetery, head out Erin St. where it will enter Main Street and move South through town center. It will disband at Booker St. Thank you to the organizers of the parade, who are all volunteers. We appreciate your hard work!

12:00 PM After the Parade - Opening Ceremony
Opening Ceremony with local elected dignitaries, singing of the national anthem, introduction of marshals and Mr. and Ms. 4th of July, announcement of parade prize winners.

12:00 PM Booths Open
All booths open - large variety of food, face painting, souvenirs. Glow-in-the-dark jewelry goes on sale at 4th of July Committee booth before fireworks.

12:00 PM Chicken Barbecue
Chicken Barbecue will be located behind the business block until sold out. This barbecue is put on by volunteers. All proceeds support 4th of July festivities. Thank you to our volunteers!

12:00 PM Bouncy Houses
Two bouncy houses, Free for children - a Giraffe and The Edge. Fun for all from after the parade, until 8 PM. All donations go to the 4th of July festivities.

1:00 PM Hot Dog Eating Contest
Giant Hot Dog Eating Contest sponsored by Bob's Big Dawgs

12:30 PM Wing'N It - Band
Wing'N It plays country music - for your dancing shoes! From 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.

1:00 PM Cod Adams Memorial Horseshoe Tournament
We seek a volunteer to run the Horseshoe Tournament!
Horseshoe Tournament will be behind the business block on Lura Libby School field. All donations support the 4th of July. Prizes provided by the estate of Cod Adams, long-time beloved director of our annual horseshoe tournament.

5:00 PM Animal House - Band
Our fabulous local band, Animal House, will play from 5pm to 9pm, leading us up to the fireworks finale!

9:15 PM Fireworks
In the event of rain or fog, the fireworks will be rescheduled to July 5th. Thank you to all the volunteers who spend their afternoon setting up the gorgeous fireworks display!

“The Stars and Stripes Spectacular” Set for July 4th

A full day of activities on the Eastern Promenade

Portland, Maine - Next week, July 4th Portland’s “The Stars and Stripes Spectacular”, will be held at the Eastern Promenade Park. This year the organizers have added the Grammy award winning artist Mellissa Manchester to the roster, and she will be performing with the Portland Symphony Orchestra.

The schedule of events on the Eastern Promenade include vendors opening at 2:00PM, the Scoops for Vets Ice Cream Festival from 3:00 – 7:00PM, and the “Stars & Stripes Spectacular” starting from the concert stage at 7:00PM. The concert is free and open to the public. It is requested that dogs, with the exception of service dogs, remain home. The concert will be broadcast live on WHOM 94.9PM and run throughout the fireworks display which will begin after 9:00PM.

For the first time ever, the event is going green! Organizers have added recycle AND compost stations near the food vendors, and plenty of waste receptacles throughout the promenade.  Please use the appropriate receptacles for your refuse, and help us keep Portland beautiful!
If the event is postponed, all activities will resume at their previously scheduled time on the following day, Sunday, July 5, 2015. For the most up to date information visit the July 4th Portland website or call the city’s hotline at (207) 756-8130.

For a full list of events, activities, sponsors, and updates please visit www.july4thportland.org.

July 4th Portland’s “Stars and Stripes Spectacular” is entirely privately funded. Support from

Statewide Construction to Cease Due to Holiday

Maine-wide - With the July 4th holiday approaching, paving operations and major bridge work in the more heavily congested areas of the state will cease operations by noon on July 3rd.

Crews will be out of the roads with no lane restrictions from noon on July 3rd through the weekend in anticipation of heavier than normal traffic due to the holiday.

MaineDOT encourages everyone to drive safely and enjoy the July 4th weekend.

Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands: Fireworks Prohibited at State Parks, Historic Sites and Public Lands

AUGUSTA, Maine – Visitors to Maine state parks and historic sites are reminded for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday that fireworks are not allowed on park and historic-site properties and public lands.

“We really want people to come and enjoy the Fourth with us and have a grand time,” said Will Harris, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands director at the Maine Department of Conservation. “However, we are not allowing fireworks on our public properties.”

Harris said that fireworks are not permitted at state parks because of safety reasons for park visitors. On public reserve lands, which are more remote and back country, fireworks are prohibited because of fire danger, he said.

Park staff will be monitoring Maine’s state parks, while public-lands staff will monitor public-reserve land units for compliance, Harris said.

Maine has 48 state parks and historic sites, as well as 29 public-reserve land units. The state parks and historic sites will be open and staffed on Wednesday, July 4, the BPL director said.

Last year, more than 2.4 million people visited Maine’s state parks and historic sites. Total day-use and campground attendance to date already is 30 percent higher than last year, according to BPL figures.

Under new Maine law, people can use fireworks on their own property or with written permission from landowners.

BPL officials are encouraging people to enjoy both Maine’s public fireworks displays and the quiet beauty of the state’s natural areas for the holiday, Harris said.

 “If you have fireworks to shoot off, please shoot them at home, or go and watch some of the fantastic municipal displays,” the BPL director said. “Then come to our Maine state parks and enjoy the best that Maine has to offer in scenic beauty and outdoor recreation.”

For more information about Maine state parks and historic sites, go to: http://www.parksandlands.com