Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
SW Harbor First Responders Celebrate Upgrades
(SW Harbor) The Southwest Harbor Fire Department is celebrating upgrades that will help elevate those intricate emergency systems the town has in place. The improvements include upgraded radios, programming, and a new console. The Fire Department said the town was a huge help in securing the upgrades and thanked the dedicated team of police department officers and dispatchers, RCM communications technicians, and Firefighter Rowan Schoff for their vital part in the emergency services the town provides.
Vehicle Sale Scam
(Augusta) It’s a scam. The Maine Attorney General’s office is warning of an active online scam involving the fraudulent sale of used and/or antique motor vehicles. They say scammers are using the names of Maine businesses and individuals to advertise vehicles for sale and get buyers to wire thousands of dollars for vehicles they will never receive. The scammers use fraudulent website domains and email addresses, along with 207 phone numbers associated with the businesses, and documents such as bills of sale and details about the vehicles like VIN numbers. They say anyone who thinks they are a victim of the scam should submit a complaint to the Maine Attorney General’s office using the online form.
(Augusta) Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, duping unsuspecting individuals out of thousands of dollars. The Maine Attorney General’s Office is warning of a current scam involving the sale of used and/or antique motor vehicles. They say the scammers use the names of Maine businesses and individuals to advertise vehicles for sale, using fraudulent website domains, email addresses, 207 phone numbers, and accounts at major U.S. banks. They often have authentic looking bills of sale and VIN numbers and sometimes provide tracking information. No Maine businesses are associated with actually promoting the scam. Anyone who thinks they are a victim should fill out a complaint form on the Maine AG’s website.
Belfast Robbery
(Belfast) Belfast police are looking for a suspect in a Thursday morning robbery at the Circle K on Northport Avenue. They say a person entered the store around 1:20 a.m. wearing a camouflage jacket, pajama pants, a baseball cap and blue surgical mask. The person handed the teller a note saying the suspect was armed, took cash, and left. Anyone with information is asked to call Belfast police.
(Belfast) Belfast authorities are searching for a suspect they say robbed the Circle K Convenience Store on Northport Avenue early yesterday morning. Chief Bobby Cormier reports to Star 97.7 news, a person entered the store around 1:20 a.m. wearing a camouflage jacket, pajama pants, a baseball cap and blue surgical mask. The person handed the teller a note saying the suspect was armed, took cash, and left. Anyone with information is asked to call Belfast police.
Arrests Made in Out of State Drug Operation
(Lee) MDEA Agents arrested two people Wednesday from a home in the Northern Penobscot County town of Lee. Investigators say they believe a large amount of fentanyl was being sold from the home at 3040 Lee Road. 36 yo Pedro Manuel Sanchez Lugo of the Dominican Republic and 27 yo Tom Severance of Lee are charged with Aggravated Drug Trafficking offenses. Charges were aggravated due to the quantity of drugs seized and the presence of firearms. Authorities seized a half pound of fentanyl, guns and suspected drug proceeds. The pair is scheduled to make an initial court appearance today in Bangor.
(Lee) MDEA Agents seized a half pound of fentanyl, suspected drug proceeds, a sawed off shotgun and other firearms from a home in Lee Wednesday night. Authorities tell Star 97.7, the Maine State Police Tactical Team and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s office assisted in serving a warrant on the Lee Road home of 27 yo Tom Lee Severance. Severance was arrested, along with 36 yo Pedro Manuel Sanchez Lugo of the Dominican Republic. The two are charged with Aggravated Drug Trafficking and are scheduled to make an initial court appearance today in Bangor.
Biden Approves Disaster Declaration for Maine
(Maine) Federal assistance funding is headed for six counties in Maine, including Waldo and Knox counties, along with hazard mitigation grants for the entire state. President Biden yesterday approved a disaster declaration for damage sustained in a December storm that left thousands in the dark on Christmas Day. The storm caused coastal flooding, road washouts, and wind damage, and left more than 300,000 homes and businesses without power.
(Maine) Maine will receive federal public assistance funding to help mitigate damage caused by a late December storm last year. The storm caused coastal flooding, washed out roads, and left more than 300,000 without power Christmas Day, after strong winds toppled trees and power lines. President Biden yesterday approved a disaster declaration for damage sustained in the storm. Federal funding is headed to Waldo, Knox, and four other counties, along with hazard mitigation grants for the entire state.
Local Politics
Bar Harbor Appoints Interim Councilor
(Bar Harbor) The Bar Harbor Town Council has appointed Clark Stivers to temporarily fill the seat left vacant when Jeff Dobbs resigned earlier this month due to health reasons. Stivers served on the board previously and will fill the seat until a new councilor is elected on June 13th to serve out the remaining two years of Dobbs’ term.
(Bar Harbor) The Bar Harbor Town Council has appointed a former board member to fill a spot left vacant earlier this month when long-time councilor Jeff Dobbs resigned. Dobbs suffered a heart attack last fall and felt health problems would prevent him from serving out his term. Clark Stivers will fill the seat until June 13th when a new councilor is elected to serve out the remaining two years of Dobbs’ term.
Sorrento Discusses Merging Fire Department/EMS Services with Sullivan
(Sorrento) A lack of volunteers prompted the town of Sorrento to scrap its EMS service several years ago. Select Board member Jon Mickel said no one would do the job, as it was impossible to keep up with the volunteer EMS license in a community the size of Sorrento. The Ellsworth American reports Mickel said if Sorrento wants a fully functioning EMS, the Fire Department would need to work out a deal with another local fire department, such as Sullivan. Further discussion on the matter is expected.
(Sorrento) The Sorrento Fire Department has more funding than Sullivan, but has been unable to staff an EMS crew for several years. With that in mind, the Ellsworth American reports the Sorrento Selectmen are considering asking Sullivan first responders about a mutually beneficial merger. The Sullivan Fire Department currently provides mutual aid but doesn’t have the funding that is available in Sorrento. Neither the Sullivan nor Sorrento Fire Chiefs were at the meeting where the issue was discussed, so the issue was tabled for a later date.
UMaine Graduate Workers Union Rally to Form Union
(Orono) University of Maine Graduate Workers Union/UAW members will be joined by state legislators and community leaders today as they rally in support of the union. They say they intend to engage the administration in collective bargaining, joining thousands across the country battling what they say is low and inconsistent pay, substandard health benefits, and the need for a voice at work. The rally is scheduled to begin at noon today at the MLK Plaza on the UMaine Orono campus.
(Orono) Members of the University of Maine Graduate Workers Union/UAW will rally in support of the union beginning at noon today at the MLK Plaza on the UMaine Orono campus. Graduate workers say pay is inconsistent and health insurance substandard. Roughly 1,000 graduate workers make up a large percentage of the overall UMaine teaching and research workforce. State legislators and community leaders will join the workers who hope to engage the administration in collective bargaining, joining thousands of others rallying today across the country.
Economy
French Restaurant to Open in Bar Harbor
(Bar Harbor) Bon Apetit! A new French restaurant is coming to Bar Harbor. The Mount Desert Islander reports Brasserie Le Brun plans to open at 74 Cottage Street on June 1st and promises to delight patrons with fresh, local ingredients. The new cuisine is being brought to town by some not-so-new faces and chefs – restaurateur Michael Boland of Havana partnered with Zach Firestein and Kat Dougan, formerly at Hearth and Harbor, to bring the taste of France to the tourist town.
(Bar Harbor) A brasserie is defined as an informal restaurant, especially one in France or modeled on a French one and with a large selection of drinks. That’s a pretty good description of Brasserie Le Brun, which plans to open on Cottage Street in Bar Harbor this June. The Mount Desert Islander reports restaurateur Michael Boland of Havana is partnering with Zach Firestein and Kat Dougan, formerly at Hearth and Harbor, to bring the taste of France to the tourist town.
Environment
Rare Planetary Alignment
(Undated) Monday night promises a rare celestial event when five planets align in the night sky. The Farmer’s Almanac says you don’t need a telescope, but you may want to head outside with binoculars and look west about 20 minutes after sunset. They say you should see a beautiful star cluster known as Messier 35, Mars, the moon, Uranus, Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury in that order.
NRDC Says NOAA Ignores Science in Ruling for Dams
(Augusta) The Natural Resources Council of Maine says NOAA is ignoring science in its statement that Brookfield’s four dams on the Kennebec River are not harming passage of the endangered Atlantic salmon as they head to the ocean to spawn, provided conservation measures are put in place. Scientist Dr. John Waldman said wildlife management has been tweaking East Coast fishways for more than fifty years and have failed to restore migratory fish populations. He says real change can be effected by removal of the dams.
(Augusta) Brookfield Renewable’s four dams along the Kennebec River and elsewhere continue to cause controversy with scientists and environmental groups. The Natural Resources Council of Maine says NOAA ignored science in its statement this week that the dams are not harming passage of endangered Atlantic salmon as they head to the ocean to spawn, provided conservation measures are put in place. The NRCM says overwhelming evidence indicates Brookfield’s fish passage proposals are a path to extinction for Atlantic salmon.
Green Ellsworth Union River Forum
(Ellsworth) The Union River in Ellsworth has been an important salmon river that continues to attract alewives and other sea run fish. Trout Unlimited has identified the river as having the best potential in the state for helping cold water fish survive the warming effects of climate change. Green Ellsworth invites those interested in the river’s health and future to attend a special forum April 7th and 8th in Ellsworth. A full schedule of speakers and events is available at green ellsworth dot org.
(Ellsworth) The Union River in Ellsworth has been identified as having the best potential in the state for helping cold water fish survive the warming effects of climate change. Green Ellsworth is hosting a special forum entitled Connecting with our Union River on Friday April 7th and Saturday April 8th. Special speakers will discuss water quality, fish stocks, land conservation, and the history of the river as a window into its future as a heritage corridor, along with a discussion of actions to secure the river’s healthy future. Find a complete schedule at green ellsworth dot org.
Infrastructure
New Vessels Ferry Their Way into Maine
(Islesboro) New vessels are ferrying their way into Maine. The Working Waterfront reports projects have been funded for Mantinicus (Muh-TIN-uh-kus) off Penobscot Bay and Peaks Island in Casco Bay. Funding has also been earmarked for a hybrid ferry to replace the Margaret Chase Smith, which currently connects Islesboro and Lincolnville Beach as part of the Maine State Ferry Service. The Maine Department of Transportation will receive a $28M grant from the federal government to fund that project.
Human Interest
French is Language of Maine
(Augusta) The Maine Department of Transportation welcomes spring with this fun fact. While Spanish is the most common non-English spoken language in the U.S., Maine is the exception. Here, it’s French. So … passé une bonne journee, which means have a great day!
Sports
Bruins skate to a 4-2 victory over the Canadiens. Bruins host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
Red Sox beat the Pirates 7-4. Red Sox take on the Braves Saturday (6:05 PM game)
Celtics host the Indiana Pacers this evening in Boston.