Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Woman Faces Theft Charges After Stealing Canoe
(Rockland) A woman is facing theft and other charges after authorities say she stole a canoe and damaged property in Rockland Monday night. Police say about 10:30, 30 yo Sierra McDonald jumped into a canoe near the Rockland Public Landing. While speaking with officers who were onshore, McDonald reportedly stripped off all her clothing, jumped into the water, and then boarded a nearby lobster boat, attempting to untie the vessel. She was taken into protective custody and transported to Pen Bay Medical Center for evaluation. Authorities later found multiple vehicles and a building on Rockland’s South End that had significant damage. Evidence linked McDonald to those damages, estimated at around $10K. After being released from the hospital, McDonald was taken into custody and faces multiple charges, including theft, criminal mischief, and violating conditions of release.
(Rockland) A 30 yo woman faces multiple charges after a Monday night incident in Rockland. Authorities say about 10:30 that night, Sierra McDonald jumped into a canoe near the Rockland Public Landing. As police confronted her from shore, McDonald reportedly stripped off all her clothing, jumped into the water, then boarded a lobster boat and attempted to untie the vessel. McDonald was ultimately taken into protective custody and transported to a hospital for evaluation. Authorities later discovered evidence linking her to significant damage to vehicles and a building on Rockland’s South End. Those damages amounted to about $10K. Upon release from the hospital Tuesday, McDonald was taken into custody. She faces charges including theft, criminal mischief, and violating conditions of release.
Police Involved Shooting in Old Orchard Beach
(OOB) A man who police say was armed with an AR-style rifle was shot and killed by a Maine State Trooper Tuesday night. Dispatchers reportedly received a call about 6:30 that evening reporting a man at a Kennebunk rest area who was believed to be armed and who was making suicidal threats. Public Safety Information Officer Shannon Moss reports the man, identified as 38 yo Christopher Harriman of Limerick, was also threatening others. When officers responded to the area, Harriman led them on a slow speed chase that ended at the parking lot of a Shop ‘n Save in Old Orchard Beach. Officers attempted to negotiate with Harriman, who then reportedly got out of his vehicle, grabbed his gun and appeared to load it. He was then shot and killed by Trooper Ryan Phillips. Per protocol, Phillips was placed on administrative leave while the Attorney General’s office investigates.
(OOB) A Limerick man was shot and killed by police outside a Shop ‘n Save in Old Orchard Beach Tuesday night. Public Information Officer Shannon Moss reports to Star 97.7 dispatchers received a call earlier that evening about a man at a Kennebunk rest stop who was armed with an AR style rifle, and who was threatening suicide as well as harm to others. When troopers arrived, the man, identified as 38 yo Christopher Harriman, led police on a slow speed chase that ended in the grocery store parking lot. Officers tried to negotiate, but they say Harriman exited his vehicle, grabbed a weapon and reportedly loaded a round into the gun. It was then he was shot and killed by Trooper Ryan Phillips. Per protocol, Phillips was placed on administrative leave while the Attorney General’s office investigates.
Economy
DownEast Wood Bank Adds to Communities Served
(Surry) Who on earth is thinking about woodstoves in these dog days of summer? Fortunately, the DownEast Wood Bank in Surry is, because we all know summers in Maine are short, winters are long – and the need for heating assistance grows every year. Last year, the DownEast Wood Bank served more than 150 families. Fortunately, their volunteer base has grown, as well; so this year, they’re adding Lamoine and Trenton to their service area, which already includes Ellsworth and most of the Blue Hill Peninsula area. If you’d like to be a part of their “help in helping others”, follow the DownEast Wood Bank on FB.
(Surry) We may be sweating it out these days, but we all know Maine summers are short, our winters long. And more and more, people find themselves in need of help in order to heat their homes. Last year, the DownEast Wood Bank in Surry helped more than 150 families in need on the Blue Hill Peninsula, as well as in Ellsworth. Fortunately, their cadre of volunteers has grown as well, so they’re adding Lamoine and Trenton to their 2024-25 service area. If you’d like to learn how YOU can be a part of helping others, follow the DownEast Wood Bank on FB.
USDA Funds to Help Combat Hunger in Maine
(Undated) One in five children in Maine doesn’t have enough to eat, and for many of those children and their families, school meal programs are an essential lifeline. On Wednesday, the USDA announced $7.4M in funding to combat child hunger in Maine. The funds will be distributed to seven organizations statewide through the nonprofit Full Plates Full Potential. Among the beneficiaries, the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association in Brunswick. MCFA has been providing frozen local fish filets to Maine K-12 schools at no cost through the Fishermen Feeding Mainers program. The funding will help them expand to more schools and build more partnerships to overcome the challenges schools face in sourcing and serving local seafood.
(Undated) Congresswoman Chellie Pingree Wednesday announced Maine will receive $7.4M from the USDA to help combat child hunger in Maine. One in five children in Maine is food insecure; and they and their families depend on school meal programs. The funds will be distributed to seven organizations statewide through the nonprofit Full Plates Full Potential. Among them, the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association in Brunswick. MCFA has been providing frozen local fish filets to Maine K-12 schools at no cost through the Fishermen Feeding Mainers program. The funding will help MCFA expand to more schools and build more partnerships to overcome the challenges schools face in sourcing and serving local seafood.
Education
July at the Versant Power Astronomy Center
(Orono) Much of the second half of the 20th Century was about the United States vs. the Soviet Union – and a big part of that was the Space Race. On July 20th, 1969, the U.S. was the first to put a man on the moon. That adventure is ongoing, and Shawn Laatsch, Director of the Versant Power Astronomy Center, tells Star 97.7, that’s the topic of Friday night programming during July. (((PlanetJuly 1 “…and permanent science exploration there.” :17))) That’s every Friday night in July at 7 p.m. Tickets are just $7 for adults, $6 for UMaine Students, Veterans, and Senior Citizens, and $5 for children under 12 and can be purchased at the door or at astro dot u maine dot e d u.
(Orono) Give the kids a break from the heat and spark their interest in rockets – much like the kids in the movie “October Sky”, at least one of whom went on to work with NASA. Shawn Laatsch, Director of the Versant Power Astronomy Center on the UMaine campus in Orono, tells Star 97.7, their July children’s programming is ready to help your young ones blast off in the most fun way! (((Planet July 2 “…and how rockets work, which is a lot of fun.” :13))) That’s every Sunday in July at 2 p.m. at the Planetarium. Tickets at the door and at astro dot u maine dot e d u.
(Orono) Celebrate the 50 Year Anniversary of Pink Floyd’s classic album “Dark Side of the Moon”, released in March 1973! Shawn Laatsch, Director of the Versant Power Astronomy Center, tells Star 97.7, it’s this month’s Sunday afternoon music show at the Planetarium. (((PlanetJuly 3 “…will come out and enjoy that.” :18))). Tickets for the music shows – in the very cool air conditioned planetarium! – are $9 and available at the door and at astro dot u maine dot e d u.
(Orono) Don’t let the kids’ learning lapse over the summer! Shawn Laatsch, Director of the Versant Power Planetarium, tells Star 97.7, their summer matinee programming is a very cool way to help kids learn, have fun, and beat the heat this summer! (((PlanetJuly 4 “…come in and explore your universe with us.” :20))). Find a complete schedule of matinee programming – it changes daily – at astro dot u maine dot e d u.
Environment
Friends of Acadia Annual Meeting
(Bar Harbor) Friends of Acadia held their annual meeting last night at the Bar Harbor Club. While much has been accomplished in the last year, Acadia National Park Superintendent Kevin Schneider and others noted there is still much to be done – particularly in the area of workforce housing. Last year, FOA purchased the Kingsley Inn in SW Harbor, Dane Farm will be open next Spring, and Hardin Farm when open will house 50-60 workers. That’s critical, because the park generally is only able to fill 115 of 150 needed positions, largely due to the lack of affordable housing for seasonal workers. Last year, the Island Explorer Bus Service had just 80 of 120 needed drivers. FOA is launching an aggressive campaign to raise the final $2.5M needed for the current $10M project. To learn more, check out friends of acadia dot org.
(Bar Harbor) A shortage of workforce housing – it’s become a critical component of being able to hire enough seasonal workers each year for Acadia National Park. At last night’s Friends of Acadia Annual Meeting, FOA announced a campaign to raise the final $2.5M of a $10M project to address the problem. Officials also handed out awards and noted progress on several key projects. Some of the highlights – The Acadia Gateway Center is scheduled to open next May. The Island Explorer Bus System expects to transport its 10 millionth rider this year. The new maintenance building is finally under construction. And volunteers carried more than 3700 pounds of soil to replenish mountain tops as part of the annual Summit Project.
Human Interest/Entertainment
Flamingo Festival Returns to SW Harbor
(SW Harbor) You’ll be feeling in the pink this weekend as the Flamingo Festival returns to SW Harbor! The kitschy festival is hosted by the Harbor House community center, with this year’s theme “Summer Games in Southwest Harbor”, modeled after the Paris Summer Olympic Games. The festival kicks off at 7:30 Saturday morning with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Coast Guard. That’s followed by the Flamingo Parade at 9:30, catering to a standing-on-one-leg-room-only crowd. A craft and book sale featuring more than 40 vendors Saturday and Sunday, and the festival closes out Monday night with a concert by Flash in the Pans Steel Drum Band. BTW, they say there’s still time to sign up for the parade, and they could use some volunteers for the children’s games on Saturday from 10 until Noon. Contact Harbor House if you can help.
(SW Harbor) We owe the invention of those kitschy pink plastic flamingos to the late Don Featherstone, who designed the iconic lawn ornament back in 1957. The bright plastic birds have inspired a host of pranks …and their own festival, which takes place this weekend in Southwest Harbor. The funky Flamingo Festival kicks off at 7:30 Saturday morning with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Coast Guard. That’s followed by the Flamingo Parade at 9:30, catering to a standing-on-one-leg-room-only crowd. A craft and book sale featuring more than 40 vendors will line the streets Saturday and Sunday, with the festival closing out Monday night with a concert by Flash in the Pans Steel Drum Band. Proceeds from the festival benefit Harbor House community center. By the way, they could use some volunteers for the children’s games on Saturday from 10 until Noon. Contact Harbor House if you can help.
Sports
Red Sox lose to the Oakland A’s last night at Fenway 5-2. Teams wrapping up that series tonight in Boston.