A P R i l 2 0 1 8 2 5 courtesy photos Lumberjills N o G o i ng B ac k Alissa Wetherbee sunders the traditional image of lumberjacks with each swing of her axe. The Axe Women Loggers of Maine, founded by Wetherbee, is a col- lection of “world champion choppers, sawyers, log rollers, and axe throwers” touring the country to showcase their skills. “In 2011, I convinced two other la- dies from Maine and one from New York to travel with me,” Wetherbee says. “As soon as word got out there was a touring group of world-class female timbersports competitors, we had more work than we knew what to do with!” Wetherbee lauds a cultural shift that celebrates female em- powerment. “Things that may have been non-traditional roles for women are be- coming more and more accepted. One of my favorite things is seeing how many little girls come and enjoy our shows.” A murmur of dissent was felt across Maine and beyond when L.L. Bean an- nounced it would end the company’s lifetime returns guarantee. Accord- ing to a letter released to customers, the outdoor outfitter is revising its generous policy due to a “small, but growing number of customers interpreting our guarantee well beyond its original intent.” From now on, you’ll need to tread carefully in your new duck boots or else claim your return within one year of purchase. Talk about a bean counter. Herregud! Belfast will soon be the site of one of the world’s largest land-based salmon farms, fol- lowing a six-month location search through Japan, Spain, China, and the UK, according to Bangor Daily News. “Maine has been chosen for its pristine location, cold water condi- tions, seafood profile, and proximity to major consumer markets in the North- eastern USA,” says a press release from Nordic Aquafarms. The Norwe- gian company picked a 40-acre plot outside Belfast for the $150M fa- cility, which will create 60 high-skilled jobs. The company aims even- tually to produce over 66 million pounds of salmon each year–8-per- cent of U.S. consumption. That’s a lot of lox. Watch the checkered flag drop at the corner of Cumberland and High streets on May 5 at the start of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride. Over 250 motorcycles and support crew will depart Portland on a seven-day journey to North Carolina. Former NASCAR driver Kyle, the son of NASCAR legend Richard Petty, is the founder of the ride and its beneficiary charity, Victory Junction. Why Port- land? “My wife and I were in New England for the New Hampshire Motor Speedway NASCAR rac- es,” Kyle says. “We decided to drive up to Maine and explore. We stopped in Portland, and I knew it should be the start line for the 24th charity ride.” The tour will have a distinctly Americana feel, “in- spired by the lighthouses of Maine,” Petty says. Spectators can watch the proceedings from along- side the Westin Hotel. “Warn Portland drivers to expect traffic jams for me!”