Happy Pi Day!
Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Dick’s Sporting Goods’ Bangor Store No Longer Selling Firearms
(Bangor) Dick’s Sporting Goods Store in the Bangor Mall is no longer carrying guns. An employee confirmed to the Bangor Daily News, the store removed firearms and other hunting equipment in January. The Bangor location joins stores in South Portland, Augusta, and Topsham that also no longer carry such weapons. Dick’s Sporting Goods began pulling guns from stores across the US after the February 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida that left 17 dead. The gunman in that incident had bought a shotgun at Dick’s, although it was not the AR-15 used in the shooting.
(Bangor) Add the Bangor Mall Dick’s Sporting Goods store to the list of those no longer carrying guns. The chain began pulling guns from stores across the US after the February 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Seventeen people were killed in that shooting. The gunman had bought a shotgun at Dick’s, although it was not the AR-15 used in the killings. According to the Bangor Daily News, Dick’s CEO Edward Stack said he was moved by the tragedy and immediately stopped the sale of assault-style weapons at his stores. In January, the Bangor Dick’s store joined three others in Maine that have removed firearms and other hunting equipment from their shelves.
Fishermen Plead Guilty as Part of Plea Deal
(Portland) A group of fishermen accused of selling unreported Atlantic herring and falsifying fishing records between 2016 and 2019 has pleaded guilty to lesser offenses as part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors. The Portland Press Herald reports the five faced 59 counts, which were dismissed as part of the deal. The plea agreement calls for a maximum sentence of a year in prison, a fine of up to $100K, and a year of supervised release, although jail time could be suspended. Four other defendants in the alleged scheme had already pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
(Portland) Between 2016 and 2019, a 100 foot fishing vessel operating out of Rockland reportedly made more than 80 trips to catch herring and then under-reported the amount caught. The US Attorney’s Office says the crew then sold the fish to dealers who also underreported how much they had received. Last week, five of the fishermen involved pleaded guilty to lesser offenses as part of a plea deal. The Portland Press Herald reports 59 counts faced by the group were dismissed as part of the deal. The plea agreement calls for a maximum sentence of a year in prison, a fine of up to $100K, and a year of supervised release, although jail time could be suspended.
DownEast Sunrise Trail Underwater at High Tide
(Machias) The DownEast Sunrise Trail remains in rough shape after storms that have plagued the state this year. A post on the FB page “Drones Eye View” shows part of the trail still underwater at high tide Tuesday, from US 1 in Machias to the Port Bridge in East Machias – two days after the most recent storm. Interestingly, the page also shows a memory from just a year ago, when the ground was frozen and covered with several inches of snow.
(Machias) DownEast Sunrise Trail users are urged to avoid parts of the trail, especially in the Machias area. A post on the FB page “Drones Eye View” shows why the trail remains in rough shape, with part of the trail still underwater at high tide Tuesday. The flooded section on the video is from US 1 in Machias to the Port Bridge in East Machias – two days after the most recent storm. Interestingly, the page also shows a memory from just a year ago, when the ground was frozen and covered with several inches of snow.
Storm Destroys Perry’s Lobster Shack Pier
(Surry) The March 10th storm completely took out the wharf at Perry’s Lobster Company on Newbury Neck in Surry. According to a post on the company’s FB page, a planned Mother’s Day opening of the seasonal Perry’s Lobster Shack is now “out of the question”. The pier operated as a lobster buying pier for local fishermen and boasted a seasonal food takeout, a favorite with locals and tourists alike, according to comments on the post. Owner Seth Michael Cote says he has filed a claim with his insurance company and asked for prayers from those who are familiar with the operation.
(Surry) The company survived the December and January storms, but the March 10th storm with its high tides pushed by forceful winds destroyed the pier at Perry’s Lobster Company on Newbury Neck in Surry. A post on the company’s FB page said a planned Mother’s Day opening of the seasonal Perry’s Lobster Shack is now “out of the question”. The pier operated as a lobster buying pier for local fishermen and boasted a seasonal food takeout, a favorite with locals and tourists alike, according to comments on the post. Owner Seth Michael Cote says he has filed a claim with his insurance company and asked for prayers from those who are familiar with the operation.
Multiple Motorists Cited for Speeding, Other Infractions
(Dedham) A two hour traffic enforcement detail on Route 1A in Dedham this week resulted in 23 vehicles being stopped for a variety of infractions. Members of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office conducted the safety measure on Tuesday. Nine motorists were cited for speeds over 70 miles per hour.
(Dedham) Those lead feet will prove costly for some drivers who were zipping down Route 1A in Dedham this week. Members of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office conducted a two-hour traffic enforcement detail on Route 1A in Dedham on Tuesday. The safety measure resulted in 23 vehicles being stopped for a variety of infractions, with nine drivers cited for speeds exceeding 70 miles per hour.
Local Politics
Biden Campaign Launches Campaign to Hit Trump on Social Security, Medicare
(The Hill) President Biden’s re-election campaign this week launched an effort in battleground states to hit former President Trump on his perceived threats to Social Security and Medicare. The campaign this week is holding more than a dozen press conferences across swing states, highlighting Trump’s comments on CNBC suggesting he’s open to cuts in Medicare and Social Security. The Hill reports the former President was quoted as calling the programs entitlements and saying, “there’s a lot you can do in terms of cutting and in term of also the theft and the bad management of entitlements.”
Economy
Eastern Area Agency on Aging Seeks Help with “Save the Lunch”
(Brewer) Eastern Area Agency on Aging served more than 215 thousand home-delivered meals in 2023. Now the rising cost of food and continued threats of federal funding cuts means more than 90 Mainers and counting have had to go on a waitlist and are not getting critical nutrition. Many not only count on the food, but the company of those who deliver Meals on Wheels. One woman shares the story of trying to live on $80 a month for food after her husband went into a nursing home, saying, “It was such a relief just to have food in the house and be able to eat a meal that has meat in it.” If you’re able to and wish to help, you can donate at e a a a dot org.
(Brewer) Rising food costs have hit seniors especially hard. Many depend on the Meals on Wheels program provided by the Eastern Area Agency on Aging, which in 2023, served more than 215,000 meals. The Agency has been hard hit as well, with rising prices and threats to federal funding, and has had to put 90 seniors and counting on a waitlist. Volunteers not only deliver nutritious meals counted on by so many, they also provide a listening ear, help with quick, easy chores, and a lifeline to make sure seniors aren’t languishing in loneliness. If you can and would like to help “Save the Lunch”, you can donate at e a a a dot org.
Health
Quality of Care a Concern as For-Profit Groups Snap up Nursing Homes
(KFF News) For-profit groups now own about 72% of the roughly 15,000 nursing homes in the United States. Many were once non-profits operated by Lutheran and other faith-based organizations. KFF Health News reports while overall for-profit ownership hasn’t notably increased in recent years, the type of companies that own these facilities has shifted toward private equity and real estate investment trusts. Consumer advocates and regulators are leery about the trend, pointing to such for-profit companies’ tendencies to have skimpier staffing, lower quality ratings, and more regulatory violations. The Biden Administration last fall issued a rule that requires nursing homes to disclose more information about their owners and management firms.
Environment
Baxter S.P. Officials Say Conditions Will Be Unfavorable for Eclipse Viewing
(BSP) Baxter State Park officials are warning aspiring eclipse viewers early April is mud season in the Maine woods. They say it’s one of the few times of the year you truly “can’t get there from here.” While the path of totality on April 8th will pass directly over Katahdin and communities in the region, park officials are warning not to plan on watching from a remote lakeshore, viewpoint, or mountain summit. The park is closed to most uses, with all trails and roads closed during April, for good reason. Weather conditions and conditions on the ground are difficult to predict, and streams and rivers are often flooded with snow melt. So if you head to the area for the eclipse, they caution keep your tires on the paved roads and your boots on the sidewalks of local communities.
(BSP) If you’re headed up north to view the total solar eclipse on April 8th, don’t plan to “park it” at Baxter State Park. While the path of totality will pass directly over Katahdin and area communities, park officials warn the event coincides with mud season. All park roads and trails are closed during April, and the park itself is closed to most uses – for good reason. Many roads are still ice and snow covered, impassable even to tow trucks. And they say snow melt makes fast-flowing streams and rivers especially dangerous. So if you head to the area for eclipse viewing, they caution keep your tires on the paved roads and your boots on the sidewalks of local communities.
Technology
Fidium Fiber Extension
(Bar Harbor) Fidium Fiber is expanding service of its all-fiber internet network to more than 4500 homes and businesses in the Bar Harbor and Mt. Desert area. Installing new fiber-optic lines along roads and public utility areas will require some digging and climbing of poles, with crews working along the edge of private property within the right-of-way. Construction could begin as early as March 22nd and may include some temporary traffic detours, noise and dust. Fidium reports crews will work quickly and clean up after themselves. If you’re faced with any of the disruption, just keep thinking about the speedy fiber internet service available when it’s all said and done.
(Bar Harbor) You may have to slow down – even detour – if you drive through parts of MDI soon. But Fidium Fiber promises the “slow-downs” will result in “speeded up” internet service. Fidium is expanding service of its all-fiber internet network to more than 4500 homes and businesses in the Bar Harbor and Mt. Desert area. That means you’ll likely see some digging in the area, with crews working along the edge of private property within the right-of-way. Fidium says traffic detours, noise and dust will be temporary, and crews will clean up after themselves. Construction is set to begin as early as a week from tomorrow, on March 22nd.
Infrastructure
Knox, Waldo County Receive Funds to Support a Variety of Projects
(Searsport) The town of Searsport will receive two million dollars for municipal pier improvements. The Belfast Police Department will receive just under a million to purchase communications, dispatch and other equipment to support public safety and criminal investigations. And Waldo Community Action Partners, a non-profit that helps people in need find resources, will receive $2M to construct a new facility. The projects are some of the nine in Knox and Waldo Counties slated to share $20M in federal funding as part of the bipartisan appropriations package signed into law by President Biden last weekend. Senator Susan Collins’ Office was reportedly a strong advocate in lobbying for the funding.
(Searsport) From improvements to the Rockland waterfront, to upgrades to the Waldo County 9-1-1 Call Center, a dredging project in Thomaston and pier improvements in Searsport…nine proposals in Knox and Waldo Counties will share $20M in federal funding as part of the bipartisan appropriations package signed into law by President Biden over the weekend. The office of Senator Susan Collins reports the Senator was a strong advocate in securing the funds. The funding will also help with bridge replacement over the Saint George River and rehabilitation of Keen Hall, a 170 yo building in Freedom that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Sports
The Celtics in the Valley of the Sun to take ON the Suns tonight in Phoenix.
The Bruins put the sticks to the ice against the Canadiens in Montreal.
The Red Sox beat the Yankees 9-4 yesterday in Spring Training. Red Sox on the field this afternoon against the Phillies. (Red Sox take on Twins Friday in an evening game.)