Hello,
I'm not sure if Midcoast Maine counts as "in the area" but I figure once you get north of Boston any given user region must be expanded somewhat to find enough likeminds
Anyway. I live near Brunswick, which in just a few more months will be a mere train ride, and a couple emails on a slow Amtrak wifi away from seacoast NH! I've been working on a few open source hardware projects on my own which you can find on a wiki group called
www.humblehackers.wikispaces.com. As you might have guessed by now my primary interest is in OpenTransit Data through my main website called
carfreemaine.org. However, ever since I started learning about open source hardware techniques and discovered its indeed possible for somebody with zero inclination towards engineering like me to build things like android/arduino-powered E-Bikes, I've wanted to build a 3D Printer!
Now that my wife is getting involved in the
indie crafts scene I decided that my next project will be to finally build a printer. My hope is to use it as a means of drawing the interest of other hackers in the area to set up regular meetups and a local hackerspace in the midcoast.
Meanwhile I have been in discussions with the organizer of the
SoPo Hackerspace in South Portland about building a RepRap together. The way I see it, there have always been maker/hackers in NH and MAINE, they just haven't gone digital yet! Once we combine the world of Arduino's, RepRaps, DIY Drones etc... with people like my next door neighbor (where I grew up in Freedom NH) who built a pick up truck entirely out of junk yard parts!
So let me know if you'd like to join in the fun!
My contacts-
www.carfreemaine.org
www.humblehackers.wikispace.com
@carfreemaine
facebook.com/carfreemaine
PS- While searching for the SoPo Hackerspace URL I discovered an announcement for the
first Maine Maker Faire! So I guess things are already happening!