RANGELEY - Governor Paul LePage presented Saddleback Ski Resort with a 2012 Governor's Award for Business Excellence during a reception held Monday, May 14 at the Statehouse Hall of Flags in Augusta.

The 22nd annual awards, administered by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and sponsored by Fairpoint Communications, recognize companies that demonstrate a high level of commitment to their community, employees and to manufacturing or service excellence.

Saddleback's owners, Bill & Irene Berry, daughter Faith Berry, grandchildren Martin & Adrienne Berard along with Chris Farmer General Manager, all accepted the award. The company is one of New England's finest family ski and snowboard resorts, offering activities and events during all four seasons.

Since 2003 Saddleback has increased its workforce from 66 full and part-time employees to 225 during the peak winter season.

We have moved the ducks to the front yard!  They were spending all their time there anyway and I had to chase them back to their duck house each night.  That got tedious so I decided to move their housing out front under our apple tree.  There is a culvert nearby that has a slow but steady trickle and so I dug out a small "pond" there!  It is very small, only about 2 feet long and 6 inches deep but it's working well for them, plus I don't have to carry water to them!  They go in each night on their own now which is perfect!  All I have to do is close them up.  They wander pretty far afield but always seem to manage to find their way home.  They also are sociable with our laying hens, spending time near the chicken coop.  The chickens are separated by a hoop house so they can't mix but I've read you can keep ducks and chickens together.  We'll see!

Miss Maine 2011, Julia Furtado, traveled to Birmingham, Alabama the last weekend in April where she and other Duke of Edinburgh Award winners were honored during several planned events.   After her arrival on Friday, April 27, the guests were treated to a Southern Barbeque.  On Saturday, April 28, 2012, Julia met HRH The Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and youngest son of Queen Elizabeth, during a Southern Garden Party and tea.  Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, and Miss America 2012, Laura Kaeppeler, also participated in the festivities. 

On Saturday, Julia was not only a guest but also a special performer at the black tie gala, singing an operatic piece “O Mio Babbino Caro” by Giacomo Puccini.   She had the opportunity to speak to the many sponsors of the event and HRH The Prince Edward during the six-course meal.  Of course, the Prince and Julia talked much about soccer since Julia traveled to Europe as part of a semi-professio