Page 7 - Spring 2024

The Maine Eclipse, continued

Dozens of private planes accessed the airport to view the eclipse
Photo by Andy Mooers ‘75

Chris Stewart, Public Works Director Houlton Regional Hospital’s Chief
Submitted Photo Nursing Officer, Traci Peabody, RN
Submitted Photo
rallied his staff to provide the community infrastructure
necessary to pull off large scale visitation. Owen Gallop Three of the ten private jets from all over the country that flew into Houlton
‘17, Director of Parks & Rec, hosted town recreation Photo by Andy Mooers ‘75
spaces. The Houlton Regional Hospital’s management attention to Houlton and northern Maine. Calls came
team developed a comprehensive emergency health flooding into Houlton International Airport and other
response. Tim McAfee, CEO of Pioneer Broadband, northern Maine airports registering flight plans. All road
blanketed all ‘Star Parks’ with free Wi-Fi. Johanna arteries into Houlton saw a steady stream of cars as people
from far and wide made their way to Northern Maine as
THE place to be. Visitation was estimated at 20,000.

The goal was clear and deliberate; use the Eclipse as
a means of promotion to make a lasting impression
about our community to visitors (and current residents)
for years to come. The success of the Maine Eclipse is
directly attributed to the people described above as
well as countless others providing hours of their time
and energy. Literally, the entire community played a
Houlton Parks and Recreation Pioneer Broadband CEO, Tim McAfee. role. In my 39 years living back in Houlton (as an adult),
Director, Owen Gallop Submitted Photo
Submitted Photo I have never seen such positive community spirit! The
Maine Eclipse 2024 marks a new chapter for the future of
Johnston’s involvement accelerated by becoming
the new executive director of Southern Aroostook Greater Houlton and Southern Aroostook County.
Development Corporation. Her administrative, financial, The Maine Eclipse Committee
special media, presentation and digital talents became Chris Anderson ’81 Mark Horvath
the glue keeping us all organized. Johanna Johnston Cheryl Locke
Tim Deluca, Chief of Police Fred Grant ‘86
The planning and tweaking went into overdrive when it
became evident the clouds would lift and our area would Cecelia Rhoda Jane Torres
become the most ideal place in the entire nation to view Nancy Ketch ’82 Nina Lipscombe
the Eclipse. National and local news media turned their Jon McLaughlin ‘72 Hollie McAfee
Traci Peabody

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