Hot on the heels of Lewiston Sun Journal’s Mark LaFlamme being named “Journalist of the Year,” there’s more popular culture news of the Maine Mystery Beast.

The 2006 Mount Desert Island Marathon® is to be run on that scenic Maine coastal location on Sunday, October 15, 2006.

Artist Paul Szauter has written to inform me that:

There are, at last count, 29 mile marker banners up for auction. The silent auction will conclude at the finish line in Southwest Harbor on Sunday. My banner for this year’s marathon celebrates the Maine Mystery Beast, the Terror of Lewiston.

At Szauter’s webpage on the banner, he has placed background information and linked it to Cryptomundo, which he writes in today’s email was “inspirational” in creating the banner.

So, is there anyone reading this that is running in the MDI Marathon? Can you pick up this banner for my museum’s collection?

Also, in the new (November 2006) issue of Down East: The Magazine of Maine, on the stands throughout October, the “Maine Mutant” makes a cameo appearance. In the section entitled “North by East,” there are two columns recapping the story, under the headline “Turner’s mystery beast.” What art do they use? The Cryptomundo exclusive sketch by Mike Lemos, of course.

Update: Over at Boing Boing, cryptobuddy David Pescovitz has posted a welcome and friendly blog on this. I would appreciate the suggested donation!