KINGFIELD - - A group calling themselves "Friends of Kingfield Farmland" originally met back in August of 2008 organized by local resident Stacey Cuppernell. The intent was to protect a 46-acre parcel of land that became available for sale located south of the village in an area known as the Gateway to Kingfield or the Interval. Members of Maine Farmland Trust were in attendance and announced that they will help anyway they can.

At that time, a group was formed and it is now making progress toward its objectives.

The goal was to purchase the land and place it under an agricultural easement to protect the agricultural value, scenic worth and maintain the recreational use that currently occurs on the property.

With the land going up for sale, the group feared that a developer could purchase the land potentially destroying the agricultural resource and restrict public access for future use.

The parcel is currently used as a hay field and local residents take pleasure in it for walking, skiing, snowmobiling and enjoy the open space it offers.

At the August meeting, Cuppernell informed attendees that she placed a three-month option on the land. That option with a purchase price of $225,000 has now expired.

In an email written by interested members, Stacey (Cuppernell) McCluskey, Betty Ann Listowich and Jo Josephson, the group reported some positive progress.

At the August meeting, residents encouraged the group to get an "opinion of value" before any fundraising efforts occur.

After a long search for such a real estate professional in that line of work, the statement now reports that the opinion of value is now underway. The group is quite pleased with who is conducting the opinion. In August, a generous resident in attendance offered to pay for such a service.

"An 'opinion' is not the same as a full appraisal, but is a reasonable first step in determining the value of a parcel," the statement reads.

They also report that late last year the seller's broker reported that the property has been reduced to $199,000. They also report that the owner is willing to negotiate. With the opinion of value in hand the group will likely meet with the owner for further discussion on pricing.

The statement said that both property owners north and south of the parcel have stated that they do not plan to sell or develop the open space.

To the north, the land is owned by the Town of Kingfield, to the south it's owned by the White family of Kingfield.

In terms of the town-owned property, "At some future point, if the townspeople feel it is warranted, they can