Oops, huh? and thanks for the info

Just wanted to say, it was nice to see the article on the A1 Diner in Gardiner. I grew up in Gardiner, and it was a special treat when my mom would take my brother, sisters and I down to the diner for lunch. That was in the 1960s. I was fascinated by the waitresses with their hairnets and bright red lipstick. We all got called "hon". The food was good and affordable. I'm not in the area any more but still have fond memories of the place. Thank you for a bit of nostalgia.

— Sherrie Fontaine
Gorham
6/23/08

Local Flavor Review: A1 Diner … by Avery Yale Kamila

Avery,

You are the best! The double write up for our show was killer! We had an amazing day and pulled in $1100 for Dogs Deserve Better!!! Wahooo!! We just had our best show yet! We more than doubled the numbers through the door and just about tripled what we donated to Dogs Deserve Better. We could not have done it without your help in getting the word out! I spoke with many people coming through the door as to how they learned about the show and many mentioned that they saw it in your paper, so thank you so very much! (And some were on their way to the dump or just out for a walk, hey I'll take them anyway I can! :)

We had great weather, a constant flow of people throughout the day and passionate people about the cause made for the perfect mix! Many artists were surprised as to how well they did, and one artist had his best show of all time! It was great all around!

Art for Dog Sake, a gathering of artists:
(2005 donation was to Shelter Friends Rescue for $250)
2006 we donated $398 to Dogs Deserve Better
2007 we donated $1100!!!!!!!! to Dogs Deserve Better

So Thank You! Thank YOU!! THANK YOU!!!! We could not have had such a successful day without your help!

— Alison Bramhall
Event Coordinator: Art for Dog Sake
http://festivefish.net
11/19/07

Going to the dogs … by Avery Yale Kamila

Hi Karen.

I just wanted to thank you for the great article in the recent Switch. Rob picked it up yesterday and couldn't have been happier with the article about the brewery. Of recent articles written about Allagash I think this is the best. It really showcased the many facets of Allagash's and Belgium's brewing techniques and influences. Nobody mentions Belgium's geography and how that influences the beer. So, I thank you for that. You were really able to paint a picture of what the brewery does that is unique and also of the experience that customers will have. It was a really great article.
I also want to congratulate Switch on its high quality and its relevance in and around Portland. It is hard to imagine that there was a niche that Switch could fit into; I'd thought that everything was covered by free newspapers. Obviously I was wrong, and I am surprised by how wrong I was! You've really been able to take the most interesting and undiscovered things about the greater Portland area, adding in day-to-day advice, and make a unique and quality paper. I really enjoy the publication and I wish you the best of luck with it.

Cheers!
— Katey Szum
10/23/07

Weekend's (almost) here… by Karen Beaudoin

Here's a timely and local-angle follow-up to Christine Heinz's article
entitled "Green's getting easier" in her "A Necessary Evil" column of
October 18-24, 2007…

I want to point out that some of types of cars of the near future that
Ms. Heinz referred to in her "Green's Getting Easier" article are
already here and available for sale in Maine. Granted these vehicles
don't do 0-60 in four seconds (they are actually low-speed 25 mph
plug-in all-electric cars – real cars that exceed the safety
standards for their class, not golf-carts) but they don't cost $98,950
either as does the Tesla Roadster she mentioned. In fact, one of these
low-speed models comes in at just about $90,000 less

• ! These NEVs
  (Neighborhood Electric Vehicles) are perfect for someone who does most
  of their driving in a local, low-speed environment, like around town
  or around the island or around the campus.

Even better, hopefully by the end of next year, there will be a 4-door
highway plug-in electric family car available here in Maine for about
$30,000. It will go about 75 mph with a range of 120+ miles. Drivers
will be able to replace one of their two-point-something-average
number of cars with a truly economical (depending on gas and kwh
prices, as little as 1/10th the cost of running a gas car),
zero-emission vehicle that can accomplish most of their everyday
transportation needs. "Switch" to a green electricity plan and there's
no greenhouse gases or pollution in the making or the use of the
energy!

Some would call that a cool car for a cooler planet!

— Kal Rogers
Marketing Director
Maine Electric Vehicles
10/19/07

Green's getting easier by Christine Heinz

Hi Avery,

I finally saw the article in print this morning - it looks terrific. I wanted to just make one small correction. The $93,000 figure was the figure for the two years worth of care that was encapsulated by the study we did (detailed in the the report I attached), not an annual total. In case anyone questions that, I just wanted to set the record straight. Thanks.

— Chris Bicknell Marden
Director of Marketing and Development
True North
10/5/07

Story modified 10/5/07 to reflect corrected dollar amount
Time is money by Avery Yale Kamila

Amy,
Thanks for covering the PYO orchards in the recent edition. I must tell you, though, I cringed when you said you had a apple throwing contest! That is one activity most orchard do not allow. Talking with an old time orchardist he tells of a farmer who lost his orchard when a family came in, had a apple fight and put another customers eye out! And besides the danger it creates, it is wasteful. It takes a lot of work to produce nice looking apples and even the drops that have fallen get sold to people for their animals.
I am certainly not implying that you put anyone in danger but your comment in the article will only encourage visitors/customers to partake in this forbidden activity with the "forbidden fruit".
And one final note other orchards besides Randall's and Thompson's offer "the apple magic".

Sincerely,
Margie Hansel
Hansel's Orchard

The Forbidden Fruit by Amy Martin

I just wanted to report an error in one of this week's articles.
In Switch Tracks, Bill Earl erroneously named Sonic Youth's bassist
as Kim Deal. Kim Gordon is Sonic Youth's bassist, and Kim Deal is the
bassist for the Pixies.

— Alan Sobodacha
9/20/07

Liars challenge expectations by Bill Earl

I enjoyed your recent article on chocolate. It sounds like you're a confirmed dark chocolate fan. Have you tried any of Valrhona's vintage single estate chocolates. They're the best I've had so far. You can find them at http://www.chocosphere.com/Html/Products/valrhona.html#ampam.

— Anestes Fotiades
9/11/07

Chocolate's Dark Side by Avery Yale Kamila

Hi Avery,
Loved your story on chocolate. As one who has spent a lifetime seeking the perfect chocolate,I feel compelled to share my find: Trader Joe's 72% Dark Chocolate, imported from Belgium. Not only is it the best I've found; it's the most reasonably priced: a 17.6 ox bar for $3.99!
I wouldn't think of going a day without at least one square. As I've heard said, "Chocolate isn't just for breakfast anymore…"

— Sally Trice, Portland
9/6/07

Chocolate's Dark Side by Avery Yale Kamila

Enjoyed your article. I have found a deal at the Lindt outlet store in Freeport…a pound of individually wrapped, bit-sized pieces of 70% for $6.99. With nuts and dried fruit, would probably make very good gorp.

— Pamela Kern
8/24/07

Chocolate's Dark Side by Avery Yale Kamila

Email from Melanie Horton:
I just found out that the GROW that I attended has nothing to do with the US
Students Association. The one I went to was started by Larry Dansinger of
Maine's own ROSC (Resources and Organizing for Social Change). It was
organized this year by Larry and a few other organizers from Northern New
England, none of whom are involved with USSA. I guess they just use the same
name…

Thanks much,
Melanie Horton
Your Turn Aug. 2

In regards to Road Trips: New Haven, CT

Hi Karen,

I have a few corrections: in your brief article on New Haven this week, you
mentioned the restaurant Roomba. Unfortunately, the restaurant closed last
week due to a lease dispute! The owners also own a lounge a few streets over
called Bespoke, and they plan to reopen Roomba (possibly under a new name?)
in Bespoke's basement. They've announced that they're keeping all their
chefs and servers, so the menu should be the same, but it'll probably take a
while to get set up in the new location.

Also, there are two big art galleries to visit, not one: the Yale University
Art Gallery (renovated just last year) and the Yale British Art Center
across the street. Both are free and have huge, beautiful collections (the
British Art Center has the world's largest collection of British art outside
of the UK).

I don't know about the lollipop or the corkscrew, but I do know that the
Frisbee was invented in New Haven (a bunch of bored Yale students started
throwing around a "Frisbie" pie plate). The city also lays a claim to being
the birthplace of pizza, though that title is disputed. Two restaurants not
to miss are Sally's and Pepe's, the fantastic rival pizza joints in Wooster
Square.

I could give you pages and pages of more tips on the New Haven area, but
will refrain for now. Hope you can get these corrections put up so people
aren't disappointed when they try to make reservations at Roomba!

-Katie Dana, 6/28/07

P.S. - The Maine Switch is a great newspaper! Keep up the nifty articles. I
always pick up a copy when I see a new issue floating around.

P.P.S. - One last piece of trivia: did you know that New Haven is the Elm
City? That makes it practically a sister of our own Forest City.

In regards to Beach Tour '07

A local South Portlander called to correct us on our directions to Willard.

We wrote: "Take State Street across the Casco Bay Bridge. Veer to the left and go through three lights. Turn right onto Cottage Road (where the scary Jesus is). You'll come to a V-intersection with Dipietro's on your right. Turn left onto Pillsbury Street. Proceed until you reach a four-way stop sign. Turn left, then take your first right onto Willard Street. Go to bottom of the street and park."
In fact, you do not turn right onto Willard Street. Your turn right onto WILLOW Street.
Hey, we said the location of this beach is something of a mystery, right?!

Hi Karen:
Great article on Burlington, VT, we luv Burlington.

How about one on LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTES!

Home of the Lowell National Historic Park, with its mill & canal tours, trolley cars, canals, museums, tours, cobblestones, etc.

Lowell's a city of 105,000. The first planned industrial city in the USA (you can thank Lowell for Lewiston & Biddeford, etc.)

It's home to the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, which also has a team in Hockey East as UMaine does.

At Paul E. Tsongas Arena, the Lowell Devils of the American Hockey League play, hosting the Portland Pirates when Portland comes to town.

In baseball, there's the Lowell Spinners of the NY-Penn League, the same league that's in Burlington, Vermont.

In the New England Collegiate league, the Lowell All-Americans play at Alumni Field, the same league that Sanford, Maine is in.

UMASS/Lowell has a great rowing team on the mighty Merrimack River.

Lowell has great restaurants, home to the largest Greek Restaurants in New England, the Olympia and Athenian Corner both on Market Streets & being a diversified city countless Cambodian, Hispanic, Irish, French, Portuguese restaurants & many more good ol' American restaurants & sports pubs.

Lowell has the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, similar to the Merrill in Portland.

Lowell has the Summer Music Series at Boarding House Park run by the Lowell National Historic Park.

LOWELL HAS THE LOWELL FOLK FESTIVAL A FEW WEEKS AWAY, BANGOR BASED ITS FESTIVALS ON LOWELLS!

Lowell has more canals than any city in America.

The Revolving Museum which relocated from Boston is KOOL.

Famous people to come out of Lowell are Jack Kerouac, there's a downtown park in his name with slabs of his poetry, also Bette Davis, James Whistler, Aunt Martha and Monster Cat Maybelline, Ed McMahon, Paul Tsongas, Art Linkletter, John Stamos, etc.

There's a lot to like about Lowell, 100 miles from Portland, on Route 495, less than 2 hours away.

"LETS DO LOWELL"

— A typewritten note from a reader who left off his/her name
6/13/07

After printing the article on HPV written by William Earl (May 24 issue), we
felt compelled to clarify and correct a few of the issues covered in the
story:

1. There is no difference between a supposed "low-risk" HPV that causes
warts with non-cancerous cells and the "hi-risk" HPV that can cause cancer.
Women who have HPV are at risk for cancer no matter what. Appearances of
warts do not determine whether or not the HPV can lead to cancer. Most
patients with warts also have pre-cancerous cells.

2. Men can and do get genital warts. Both men and women can carry
the HPV in its dormant state within their skin and transfer it through
sexual contact.

3. According to most doctors, HPV cannot be diagnosed unless symptoms
(warts) appear. Although a Pap smear that detects cancerous cells may allude
to the presence of HPV, it does not guarantee a diagnosis.

At Switch, we understand this disease is very serious and do not want to
mislead our readers in any of the aspects of dealing with it. Women over the
age of 26 are not eligible for the vaccine. We apologize for any
inaccuracies.

— Karen Beaudoin, SWITCH Editor
4/24/07

I just discovered your paper at a Chinese restaurant in South Portland. I'm not sure how long you have been publishing it, but this is the first time I've seen a copy. I pick up the Forecaster and the Phoenix all the time - ususally at Hannaford, but sometimes Shaw's or the Town & Country credit union. I've never seen your paper at Shaw's, which is listed on your website. Maybe the pile goes fast. Is it possible that you are underestimating the popularity Anyway, I'm glad I discovered it - I found the information very useful in the issue I picked up a couple weeks ago. I was also very glad to discover the article about the ReStore in Portland - I didn't know about that and I'll be checking it out soon because I'm doing some renovating this spring. I hope this note gives you some useful feedback - I don't write to publications often but I really enjoyed The Maine Switch.

— Peter Kaessinger
4/12/07

I happened to pick up a copy of The Maine Switch for the first time this morning. As I was browsing through it, I noticed on page 16 of the March 22-28 edition the Phone FYI where you make a suggestion to users in case their phones are lost or stolen. I'm not sure where you got this but it's very reminiscent of something that has been going around the Internet for a while now, but has recently resurfaced. You really should check factoids like this before actually publishing them. You can check them at places like Snopes.com, the link for this specific item is www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/cellphones.asp. Passing along erroneous or misleading information like this can actually cause more harm than good, even though this procedure may work on some phones. Besides Snopes, you can check for Internet hoaxes at Hoaxbusters: hoaxbusters.ciac.org, as well as a Symantec and McAfee.

— Dana Twiss
3/28/07

I just read your article "International Spice." Those "Italian sandwiches" are really a very wonderful Vietnamese sandwich consisting of pork pate, pickled carrots, jalapenos and cilantro on a good French baguette (the bread here in Maine is not often that though). I personally know of shops in Seattle that prepare only these sandwiches and they are wonderful!
Just thought you should know.

— Susan McNally
3/20/07