DEAR SUN SPOTS: Nothing seems to be happening at the location of the proposed addition to the Auburn Suburban fields on Garfield Road. Is this project ever going to get done? — Louise, no town

ANSWER: According to Realtor Travis Bashaw, who was on the board of Auburn Suburban when his company assumed the land back in 2021, kindly addressed your question for me.

He wrote: “We have done quite a bit to the land since acquiring it. Initially, the National Guard was set to do the work and they were on site last summer to clear the land in preparation for completion of the site plan.

“In June 2023 we had the National Guard on site to start to prepare the land for development. There were two units tasked with the project and they experienced some delays resulting in less work performed than the scope of work anticipated for completion. This is the major piece that stalled the progress.

“After the National Guard left us far short of what we had anticipated, we had Comprehensive Land Technologies (CLT) out of China, Maine come in to grub and grind stumps, organize piles by material, and stabilize the land for next steps.

“We had a site plan drawn up to get the land ready for field contractors. (The estimate) is $2.5 million just to get to where we could have fields installed. A significant portion of the work quoted was anticipated for completion by the National Guard, originally. We have and continue to reach out to private investors and financial institutions, and continue to seek funding to complete this project.”

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Does anyone have any idea what is going on with Maine State Museum in Augusta?

I thought they were closed for renovations last year but the website says it is still temporarily closed. I can’t imagine what is taking so long as the museum was awesome as it was and has so much fun Maine history and facts.

The top floor was a blast from the past and looked and was furnished as a close replica of my parents’ house circa late 1950-1960s. I just loved it and it awakened lots of memories.

Thank you, Sun Spots. If anyone can get the scoop, it is you. — No name, Lewiston

ANSWER: Sadly, the museum building will not be reopening until the end of 2025 or possibly not until 2026. The huge renovation project underway includes asbestos abatement and a mechanical system (HVAC) replacement.

This will ensure that the museum is safe for visitors and staff and that all exhibits with all their parts and pieces are protected. The air quality, temperature and humidity will be vastly improved.

Because of all the work being done, staff, consultants and contractors are working together to move, cover, and protect all the various collections. I can’t imagine how time-consuming and challenging this project must be, and I applaud everyone involved for their care and attention to our state’s history. Once reopened, the museum will still be part of our beloved heritage and history for many generations yet to come.

The organization has been very transparent about what they are dealing with. If you want more details, go here: https://mainestatemuseum.org/visit/museum-updates-2/asbestos-abatement/.

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