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New Balance for = trails is=20 $3.9M

E-mail=20 a letter to the editor of
the Kennebec Journal or Morning = Sentinel=20 pr= inter-friendly=20 version

SAMANTHA DEPOY = Correspondent November 21, 2006 Local = & State,=20 page 5B

By SAMANTHA DEPOY Correspondent

KINGFIELD -- Backers of a proposed recreation hut- = and-trail=20 corridor that will crisscross the western Maine mountains were on = top of=20 the world on Monday with the announcement of a $500,000 gift from = the New=20 Balance Foundation.

The contribution will allow Kingfield-based Western = Mountains=20 Foundation to take a major step forward in bringing to fruition = its=20 180-mile hiking, skiing and paddle hut and trail system = that will=20 stretch from Moosehead Lake to Bethel.

"Fundraising is funny. You get out there and you battle and = battle=20 and battle and, some days, you really feel like you aren't getting = anywhere," said David Herring, Maine Huts and Trails = executive=20 director.

"And then, all of a sudden, you get a gift like this. ... = We were=20 just thrilled to the point where we were all cheering and jumping = up and=20 down when we got the news."

New Balance's pledge brings the amount raised for the first = phase=20 of the project to $3.9 million, Herring said.

A total of $4.5 million must be amassed for that initial = portion,=20 which will secure the northern half of the foundation's proposed = corridor.=20 It will include 36 miles of developed trail from Carrabassett = Valley to=20 The Forks and be dotted with huts along Poplar Stream = Falls,=20 Flagstaff Lake and on the Dead River.

The New Balance Foundation is a charitable foundation = established=20 and funded by New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc., which employs more = than 900=20 associates at its three Maine manufacturing facilities in Norway,=20 Norridgewock and Skowhegan.

If the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission approves the = plans,=20 Herring said construction of the first hut will begin in = the=20 spring, with building of the second and third huts = beginning in the=20 fall.

New Balance's gift marks the largest single amount the = project has=20 been awarded.

"Getting New Balance behind us really helps with our = credibility,"=20 Herring said.

Herring said New Balance was supportive of the project = because of=20 the statewide impact it would have, especially for children.

That sentiment was voiced in a press release put out by the = foundation and New Balance on Monday.

In that release, Anne Davis, the company's vice chairwoman, = said,=20 "We are happy to promote outdoor health and fitness for Maine = residents=20 and visitors through the Maine Huts and Trails initiative. = The=20 foundation looks forward to a future of programs aimed at = providing=20 positive, healthy experiences for kids while utilizing the new = trail=20 system."

Samantha DePoy -- 778-3949

samdepoy@verizon.net

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