Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Mariaville Fire
(Mariaville) The man who was staying in a camper trailer in Mariaville is who likely died when it was destroyed by fire Thursday morning. DNA testing will be used to determine if the remains found are those of 34 yo Tyler Anderson. The blaze happened on Freedom Ridge Road around 5:30 yesterday morning. Authorities do not suspect foul play.
(Mariaville) DNA testing will be necessary to determine if the remains found after fire destroyed a camper trailer in Mariaville Thursday were those of 34 yo Tyler Anderson. Authorities say Anderson was the person staying at the camper, which was completely destroyed when fire broke out about 5:30 yesterday morning. No word on a cause, but firefighters tell Star 97.7 they do not suspect foul play.
Local Politics
Surry Seeks Residents’ Input
(Surry) Surry’s Comprehensive Plan Committee wants to hear from town residents. The Ellsworth American reports a survey has been mailed to all residents and is available on the town website, asking for feedback on future commercial and residential development, environmental changes, issues with well water and the quality of local services. The survey will remain open until 3 p.m. on June 15.
(Surry) If you live in Surry, the Comprehensive Plan Committee asks that you take a few minutes to respond to a recent survey mailed to all residents. The survey asks for feedback on, among other topics, future commercial and residential development, environmental changes, issues with well water and the quality of local services. Residents can also access the questionnaire at town of surry maine dot com. The Ellsworth American reports the comment period will remain open until 3 p.m. on June 15th.
Bill Would Benefit Grandparents Raising Children
(Augusta) Senator Susan Collins helped introduce legislation to improve housing for grandfamilies. Many grandparents in Maine and around the country are stepping in when parents are no longer able to care for their children. The Grandfamily Housing Act would provide grants to enable housing providers to make retrofitting and accessibility improvements to intergenerational homes. About one in five grandfamilies live at or below the federal poverty level.
Mills Proposes Tackling Housing, Homelessness, Other Pressing Issues
(Augusta) Governor Janet Mills this week released a change package that aims to address some of Maine’s most pressing problems. Those include housing, homelessness, food insecurity, emergency medical services, and continued workforce development issues. The Governor proposes using surplus and projected revenues to fund the most urgent problems.
(Augusta) EMS services in rural counties, the ongoing problems of homelessness and food insecurity, housing and workforce crises – those are a number of things addressed this week by the Mills’ administration in a change package which serves as an amendment to LD 258, the budget package signed by the Governor earlier this year. The Governor is proposing using surplus and projected revenues to fund the state’s most urgent problems.
Changes to State Constitution Proposed
(AP) The creation of a lieutenant governor, popular election of some state officers such as Attorney General and Secretary of State, and a reduction in the number of members of the legislature. The Associated Press reports those are some of the potential changes to the Maine Constitution lawmakers are set to consider. The proposal was the subject of a public hearing this week, will face votes in committee in the coming weeks, and would then need to head to the full legislature.
(AP) Could Maine one day have a lieutenant governor? That’s one of the potential changes to the Maine Constitution which will be under consideration by the state legislature. The Associated Press reports a public hearing this week also included proposals for popular election of some state officers, such as Attorney General and Secretary of State, reducing the number of members of the legislature and lengthening the terms of state senators. The proposal will face votes in committee in the coming weeks and would then need to head to the full legislature.
Ellsworth City Council to Vote on Pride Month Proclamation
(Ellsworth) Pride will be on the agenda at Monday’s Ellsworth City Council meeting. A group of Ellsworth High School Students created a proclamation for councilors to vote on, recognizing June as Pride Month in the City. The month is widely celebrated as Pride Month by LGBTQ groups across the country.
(Ellsworth) Since 1999, June has been recognized across the country as Pride Month. A group of Ellsworth high school students is asking the Ellsworth City Council to make that designation official here. The students created a proclamation that will be voted on this Monday at the regular meeting of the council. If passed, June will officially be recognized as Pride Month in Ellsworth, celebrating the LGBTQ community.
Ellsworth Library Could See Budget Increase
(Ellsworth) Budget cuts for the Ellsworth Public Library have been anything but fiction the past few years, but City Councilors in a workshop have indicated support of an 11 percent increase for FY 2024. At their request, Library Director Sara Lesko presented Council with a revised budget that would basically restore library funding to previous levels. If approved, the library would once again have later evening hours and would reopen on Mondays.
(Ellsworth) There’s been some drama at the Ellsworth Public Library the past few years, with key staff leaving and hours being diminished due to budget cuts. Some say it’s been a crime. But now the library may be facing a new adventure as City Councilors in a workshop indicated support of an 11 percent increase for FY 2024. Could longer evening hours and reopening on Mondays be just a fantasy? Not if councilors approve the increase. It’s no mystery, patrons would approve of such a move. Bookmark your calendar for a meeting later in June, when the novel concludes, hopefully with council members approving the increase as part of the city’s overall budget.
Economy
Bar Harbor Meters Installed
(Bar Harbor) Beginning Monday, visitors to Bar Harbor will once again need to pay to park. The Mount Desert Islander reports the Bar Harbor Highway Division began reinstalling parking meters around town this week as off-season free parking comes to an end. Parking costs will remain at the previous rate of $2 per hour in the downtown area, and $1.50 per hour in the outer downtown limits, but may increase with the beginning of the new fiscal year, which starts July 1.
(Bar Harbor) No more free lunch – or rather, no more free parking in Bar Harbor as of Monday. The Mount Desert Islander reports the Bar Harbor Highway Division began reinstalling parking meters around town this week as off-season free parking comes to an end. Parking costs will remain at the previous rate of $2 per hour in the downtown area, and $1.50 per hour in the outer downtown limits, but may increase with the beginning of the new fiscal year, which starts July 1.
Education
County Teachers of the Year Chosen
(Maine) The Maine Department of Education yesterday announced this year’s County Teachers of the Year. Hancock County is represented by Reading Recovery and Gifted and Talented Teacher Miranda Engstrom from Lamoine Consolidated School. From Washington County, High School Science and Engineering Teacher Colleen Maker from Washington Academy, Waldo County is represented by Kindergarten teacher Catie Ray, who works with the little ones at Weymouth Elementary, and for Penobscot County, Middle School Special Education Teacher Jessica Archer is at Orono Middle School.
Environment
Planning for Maine’s Total Solar Eclipse
(Orono) On April 8th next year, the moon will completely cover the sun for about 3-1/2 minutes in parts of Maine as we experience a total solar eclipse. Shawn Laatsch, Director of the Versant Power Planetarium, is one of the coordinators of a citizen science project that will be monitoring the rare, heavenly event. (((Eclipse 1 “…at Rice University in Texas.” :17))) Laatsch recently returned from viewing a total solar eclipse in Australia and says the difference between experiencing a partial and a total eclipse is like seeing a lightning bug compared to being hit by lightning – simply amazing.
(Orono) Birds stop singing, animals react in strange ways, and the air turns noticeably cooler – those are just some of the strange occurrences during a total solar eclipse, which Maine is set to experience next year on April 8th. Coastal Maine is incredibly fortunate to have one of the Citizen Science project coordinators right here at the Versant Power Planetarium in Orono. Director Shawn Laatsch recently returned from viewing a total eclipse in Australia. (((Eclipse 2 “…but it was worth it.” :13))) Laatsch is helping coordinate the project documenting the eclipse along the path from Texas to Maine. Incidentally, if you’re looking for eclipse glasses, they are available at the planetarium.
Infrastructure
Cadillac Summit Road Reopens
(Bar Harbor) After months of work on culverts and other repairs, the Cadillac Summit Road at Acadia National Park is now reopened to the public. Pedestrians and bicyclists are urged to use caution due to uneven surfaces. Paving and other work will resume at a later date. Beginning May 24th, vehicle reservations are required through recreation dot gov.
(Bar Harbor) Work on the Cadillac Summit Road has been suspended for the summer tourism season, and Acadia National Park officials have reopened the road to vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. They urge caution because culvert work has left some surfaces uneven. You have just 12 days to drive up before the vehicle reservation system goes into effect through recreation dot gov on May 24th.
Human Interest
Mother’s Day Stats
(Undated) You DO have to remember Mom this Sunday, but experts say you don’t have to break the bank. New data from Pattern shows the price of digital photo frames, neck massagers, makeup kits, and gardening tools is down this year – up to 11% lower than last. Women’s clothing and shoes are up slightly in price, but when it comes to those items, probably best to get a gift card anyway … unless you know her tastes really well.
(Undated) Flowers and free time are always good bets as gifts for Moms on Mother’s Day. If you’re looking for more traditional gifts, new data from Pattern shows you may pay less this year when compared to last year’s gifts. The price of digital photo frames is down 11%, neck massagers down 4% and makeup kits, down 2%. If mom’s a cook, kitchen gadgets are up just 2%, but it might be a good idea to give her that gift during a meal out – at least for this Sunday.
Sports
Red Sox run the bases at Fenway this evening against the Cardinals.
Game 6 of the NBA playoffs goes to the Celtics 95-86. The Celtics and 76ers tied at two games apiece in Round 2. Game 7 Sunday