Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Waldo County Sheriff’s Office Seeks to Return Unclaimed Items
(Belfast) Anyone missing a Firman generator? How about an Evinrude sportsman boat motor? A chainsaw? The Waldo County Sheriff’s office seems to have a number of those. They’re just a few of the many unclaimed, abandoned, or otherwise found property the Sheriff’s Office would like to return to their rightful owners. The Pen Bay Pilot reports if the owners of the listed properties have not come forward in five months, they’ll be surrendered to the person who found the item, donated to a non-profit, or disposed of as waste.
(Belfast) Anyone missing a Viper paintball gun? How about an Apple i-pad? A Cannon Cascade kayak paddle? The Waldo County Sheriff’s office has posted in the Pen Bay Pilot a list of items they’d like to return to their rightful owners. There are also a number of chainsaws, fishing equipment, even an air compressor and a floor safe. The Sheriff’s office would like to return the unclaimed, abandoned, or otherwise found properties. They say if the owners have not come forward in five months, they’ll be surrendered to the person who found the item, donated to a non-profit, or disposed of as waste.
Local Politics
Residents Discuss Local Options Lodging Tax for Bar Harbor
(Bar Harbor) Forum attendees voted to continue talks on a local options lodging tax for the Town of Bar Harbor this week. The Mount Desert Islander reports the forum served as neutral ground for stakeholders to voice both their opinions and concerns. In recent decades, 84 local options tax bills have reportedly been introduced and failed in Augusta. In a current bill before the legislature, municipalities would be enabled to set a one percent tax on top of the nine percent state tax, for a total 10 percent tax. The monies collected would in part go toward efforts to make housing affordable. If passed, Bar Harbor would be able to institute the one percent tax but would not be required to do so.
(Bar Harbor) Such efforts have reportedly been introduced and failed 84 times in Augusta. But this week, attendees at a forum in Bar Harbor voted with a show of hands to continue talks on a local options lodging tax for the town. The Mount Desert Islander reports the forum served as neutral ground for stakeholders to voice both their opinions and concerns. In a current bill before the legislature, municipalities would be enabled to set a one percent tax on top of the nine percent state tax, for a total 10 percent. The monies collected would in part go toward efforts to make housing affordable. If passed, Bar Harbor would be able to institute the one percent tax but would not be required to do so.
Sunday Hunting Ban
(Augusta) Sunday hunting in Maine was banned more than 140 years ago, and that tradition holds firm. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court issued the ruling Thursday, keeping the ban in place. The most recent attempt at overturning the ban began two years ago when a couple filed a lawsuit claiming the right-to-food amendment should allow hunting seven days a week.
(Augusta) Hunting on Sundays still a no-go here in Maine. While there have been attempts to overturn the tradition since it was put into place more than 140 years ago, the courts have held firm. A Maine couple had filed a lawsuit two years ago, claiming the right-to-food amendment passed in 2021 gave them the right to hunt seven day a week. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Thursday ruled not so, and the Sunday ban remains in place.
Bar Harbor Council Considers Parking Concerns
(Bar Harbor) An increase in parking rates is unlikely, but premium parking areas could be expanded in Bar Harbor. The Mount Desert Islander reports a comparative analysis of occupancy rates from 2022-23 led the town finance department to propose extending the premium parking areas on Cottage Street from Rodick to Bridge Street to include the so-called Casino Lot. The issue will be revisited at the Council’s next meeting.
(Bar Harbor) Tourist season will be here before you know it, and that means a growing amount of revenue from those parking meters that have lined the streets of Bar Harbor the past few years. The Mount Desert Islander reports an increase in parking rates is unlikely, but premium parking areas could be expanded. Following presentation of a comparative analysis of occupancy rates from 2022-23, the town finance department proposed extending the premium parking areas on Cottage Street from Rodick to Bridge Street to include the so-called Casino Lot. The issue will be revisited at the Council’s next meeting.
Economy
Maine Maple Sunday Back for Another Weekend
(Maine) Last weekend’s weather presented a bit of a sticky situation for the state’s sugar shacks on Maine Maple Sunday Weekend. Motorists were warned to stay off roads, so many missed out on the experience – and the deliciously sweet goodies. Not to worry, there’s still a lot of sweetness to go around. Most sugar shacks plan to be open this weekend as well. Check with your local favorite and stock up for the year.
(Maine) Last weekend’s snow and ice presented a slippery situation for the sweetest weekend of the year – Maine Maple Sunday weekend. While many folks still ventured out, crowds were down compared to those usually found at sugar shacks across the state. Not to fear, there’s still plenty of sweetness to go around, so most sugar shacks plan to open this weekend as well, in order to give patrons a chance to stock up on all things maple for the year.
Waterfront Businesses Get Storm Response Grants
(Rockland) Fifty-two waterfront businesses have received grants totalling $250,000 to help rebuild in the wake of the back-to-back January storms. Island Institute recently announced the distribution of the Business Resilience Storm Response Grants, awarded to lobster wharves and others depended upon by fishermen and others in the state’s marine industry. Local beneficiaries include Thurston’s Lobster Pound on MDI, which was particularly hard hit. The Rockland-based Island Institute is a community development non-profit serving Maine’s island and coastal communities.
(Rockland) Thurston’s Lobster Pound on MDI was one of those hardest hit in the back to back January storms. Thurston’s is one of fifty-two waterfront businesses that has received Business Resilience Storm Response Grants totalling $250,000 to help rebuild. The grants are from the Rockland-based Island Institute, a community development non-profit serving the state’s island and coastal communities. The grants were targeted toward communities that are major contributors to the state’s marine economy.
Checking Off Help for the Animals
(Augusta) This tax season, you can help transform the lives of Maine’s pets by voluntarily contributing to the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund when you file your income tax return. Through this fund, deserving individuals receive help with spaying and neuter services, saving countless lives. Simply mark the designated box labeled “The Companion Animal Sterilization Fund” on your Maine State 1040 ME Schedule CP.
(Augusta) People know they should spay and neuter their pets, but outside of clinics here and there, the procedure can be costly. You can help this tax season by voluntarily contributing to a fund when you file your income tax return. Simply mark the designated box labeled “The Companion Animal Sterilization Fund” on your Maine State 1040 ME Schedule CP. Through this fund, deserving individuals receive help with spaying and neuter services, saving countless lives.
Education
EMT Class Offered
(Columbia) There’s always a shortage of EMT’s, especially in rural areas. It’s the perfect way to get your foot in the door if you’re considering nursing, becoming a doctor, or any practice in the medical field. If you’ve wondered about becoming a part of the lifesaving profession, an EMT class is starting April 13th in Columbia. The course will be a hybrid course, with online and in person labs that will run through the end of June. Online classes will be Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with labs every other Saturday and Sunday. For more information, contact Andrew Phillips at Moosabec Ambulance Service in Jonesport.
(Columbia) They’re in the business of saving lives, bringing comfort to those who are sick or injured, and sometimes working side by side with firefighters, the Maine Warden Service, law enforcement and others in life-changing rescues. But there’s always a shortage of EMT’s, especially in rural areas. If you’ve wondered about the profession, an EMT class is starting up in Columbia on April 13th. The course will be hybrid, with online and in person labs that will run through the end of June. Online classes will be Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with labs every other Saturday and Sunday. For more information, contact Andrew Phillips at Moosabec Ambulance Service in Jonesport.
MDI Biological Lab Addresses Housing Needs Resulting from Continued Growth
(MDI) An increase in the number of students and staff at the MDI Biological Laboratory has led to a need for better housing, more infrastructure, and a robust training curriculum. As a result, the lab has renovated and winterized seven cottages and built a new student housing unit with five suites. The lab, whose work is supported by federal research dollars and philanthropic supporters, reports the first student cohort moved into the new building earlier this month. The facility conducts cutting edge research and plans to expand training opportunities, including summer fellowships for high school and college students.
(MDI) Student enrollment, staff, cutting edge research and training, and housing facilities – all things that are growing at the MDI Biological Laboratory. The facility reports it has addressed housing issues by renovating and winterizing seven cottages and building a new student housing unit with five spacious suites, which began accommodating students in early March. The lab’s work is supported by federal research dollars and philanthropic supporters. The MDI Bio Lab plans to expand training opportunities, including summer fellowships for high school and college students.
Human Interest/Entertainment
Sullivan Hosts Aquatic Adventure Camp
(Sullivan) Meet a lumpfish, learn about sea creatures and seaweed, and visit what lives beneath those ocean waters that surround our towns and economy. Friends of Taunton Bay is hosting an Aquatic Adventure Camp on Taunton Bay this summer. The camp is for 6-11 year olds, with two sessions – July 23-25 and August 6-8 from 9 until Noon. Cost per session is $75 – $50 for Sullivan kids. See Friends of Taunton Bay on Facebook.
Corporate Spelling Bee
(Portland) Who says Spelling Bees are just for kids? This past Wednesday, the Maine Trust for Local News held a corporate spelling bee at Oxbow Brewing in Portland. Fifteen participants raised money for the winner’s chosen charity, with each agreeing to also write a check for $150 to the winning competitor’s charity. The final round came down to Boulos Company’s Jessica Estes, who was playing for Learning Works, and University of Southern Maine President Jacqueline Edmondson, playing for USM’s scholarship fund. Estes’s winning word was “pilcrow”, a symbol marked to begin a new paragraph. MaineBiz reports in winning this year’s event, Estes dethroned two-time reigning champ Michael Bourque, a CEO who lost on the word “wobbulator”.
Sports
Red Sox won their regular season opener against the Mariners 6-4. Boston remaining in Seattle through Sunday for that series.
In a hold-your-breath overtime game, the Celtics lose to the Hawks 123-122. Celtics at Smoothie King Center on Saturday to shoot hoops with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Bruins have another night off. They’ll be in DC Saturday to put the sticks to the ice against the Washington Capitals.
NCAA tournament semifinals – the UMaine men’s hockey team ending a great season (23-12-2) with a 3-1 loss to Cornell.
NCAA March Madness – Sweet Sixteen playoffs continue tonight as they head toward the Elite Eight games this weekend.