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Augusta Olympian gets key to city

Kennebec Journal Staff

AUGUSTA -- The city's first-ever Olympian, Julia Clukey, received the key to the city Thursday.

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Julia Clukey

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Augusta native and 2003 Cony graduate Clukey, who competed in the luge at the Olympics in February in Vancouver, British Columbia, received the key from Mayor Roger Katz.

Clukey is in Maine on a break from her grueling, nearly year-round training regimen that even in the offseason, she said, involves training four hours a day, six days a week.

"I'm really proud I was born and raised here. Augusta is very much a part of me no matter where I go in the world," Clukey told councilors and audience members, who gave her a standing ovation. "It's special to me to be able to reconnect with the community and share my story."

Clukey, in a partnership with the Maine Beer and Wine Distributors, is also speaking to high school students at schools across the state, discussing the importance of making good decisions.

Councilor Cecil Munson asked what it was like to take the intimidating plunge down an icy shoot "on that little sled at 100 miles per hour."

"It's a rush," Clukey said. "I still get the same adrenaline before every run. It's just a thrill that nothing else compares to -- like nothing else I've ever done in my life."

Artists look to show their stuff

WINTHROP -- Auburn artist Anita Poulin is at work on a new initiative aimed at removing some of the expense and difficulty artists encounter when trying to market their work.

Poulin's initiative, an art collective, is called the Greenwood Studio Group.

Once she finds 10 interested artist participants, Poulin says she plans to contact Maine galleries to schedule showings of the collective's artwork.

An exhibitor at Winthrop's recent Sidewalk Art Show, Poulin shopped her idea around to fellow show participants.

"They were most receptive to the idea," Poulin wrote in an e-mail.

The emerging collective is online at www.greenwoodstudiogroup.com.

Good job, Chuck

GARDINER -- Congratulations to Chuck Applebee, Director of Wastewater and Public Works, for being nominated to serve as the Maine State Director of the New England Water Environment Association. This highly sought after position represents Maine at the New England level regarding wastewater issues. The NEWA executive committee will vote in early September on Applebee's nomination for this position, which would run through January 2013.

Boat launch gets parking boost

MONMOUTH -- Selectmen are moving forward with plans to expand parking at the Cobbossee Boat Launch on Launch Drive.

The current parking lot, which holds about 20 vehicles, is overtaxed at times, such at the Fourth of July and during fishing derbies, said Town Manager Curtis Lunt. The crowding has forced some people to park illegally on Launch Drive. The town has issued tickets to some of those drivers.

The town is hoping to expand parking into a nearby lot that was recently cleared of trees. Selectmen also hope to modify the ordinance, which prohibits parking on Launch Drive, to grant permission to the police chief to allow limited parking on one side of the road during specific events, Lunt said.

"It's probably a half dozen times a year," Lunt said.

Nobody offered comments during an open session held recently. Selectmen will hold at least one more public hearing to discuss the ordinance change.

Councilors pick fort's leader

AUGUSTA -- City councilors unanimously endorsed Linda Novak to lead Old Fort Western.

Novak was already on the job as acting director of the historic fort. Councilors Thursday confirmed City Manager William Bridgeo's, and the Old Fort Western Board of Trustees', nomination of Novak as director and curator.

She will take a spot vacated by Jay Adams, who stepped down last year to become executive director of Viles Arboretum. Adams served 23 years at the 256-year-old fort.

The Reporter's Notebook is a new regular feature of the KJ, where we'll offer the best news, rumor and oddities from around the community. Know something the Notebook should mention? Call 623-3811, e-mail kjedit@kjonline.com, or find us on Facebook or Twitter (@kj_online).