Special meals served to benefit Maurer scholarship

AREA — Eleven area restaurants will be offering a special menu in a couple of weeks to support local agriculture and the Justin Maurer Scholarship Fund in honor of college graduate Justin Maurer, who passed away unexpectedly in April 2005.

Established through the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) , Maurer Meals is a project to raise money and promote community interest in sustainable agriculture and healthy eating.

According to Pat Carpenter, director of Gift Planning and Stewardship at UMF, the money raised will go to Denise Robinson, a fourth year student at UMF who will graduate with a degree in Community Health next spring.

According to Carpenter, Maurer was passionate about nutrition and eating local, fresh foods. He graduated from UMF in 2004 with high honors and a degree in Community Health.

The Olde Mill Tavern in Harrison, and both Café Nomad and 76 Pleasant Street in Norway are three of the 11 restaurants in Maine to sponsor the Maurer Meals Project.

According to Bret Baker, owner of 76 Pleasant Street, while his menu is still being decided, it will feature two specials with "locally produced and sustainable items."

Baker said that this is his first year involved with the project, and that he really looks forward to the turnout.

"We will buy everything locally, then put a price tag on it ... and a portion of the profit will go to the fund," said Baker. "Usually they [proceeds] are one to two dollars per meal."

Kim Hamlin of Café Nomad said that this is the fifth year it has been involved with Maurer Meals, and that each year, it does things a little differently.

While Maurer Meals is scheduled for October 14 and 15, Café Nomad staff decided they would extend their specials in the effort to raise more money.

"This year, we are looking to get some Buffalo from Beech Hill Farm, some local apples and cranberries, and to run specials a little bit more than just the weekend," she said."We will start on [next] Tuesday and run all week."

According to Hamlin, Café Nomad will feature certain items on its already-local menu, and $2 from each meal will be donated to Justin Maurer Scholarship Fund.

"We want to be supportive; we have been getting a lot of stuff from the farmers market across the street lately. ... We want to be able to give more," said Hamlin.

For more information about the Maurer Meals Project or to get involved, call 524-2060 or visit www.maurermeals.org.

Edited on September 30 to correct the name of the restaurant owned by Baker.