Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Maine State Police Investigate Suspicious Deaths in Milford
(Milford) Maine State Police investigated the deaths of two people in Milford this week. The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office was called to a home there about 5 p.m. Wednesday for a well-being check. When they arrived, officers found two people who were deceased and deemed the deaths suspicious. The bodies were taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where it was determined both deaths were the result of suicide. Because of the manner of deaths, the identities of the deceased are not being released.
(Milford) Two people were found dead in a home in Milford Wednesday evening – Maine State Police initially said the deaths were considered suspicious. Public Safety Information Officer Shannon Moss tells Star 97.7, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office found the bodies after they were called to the home for a well-being check. The bodies were taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where it was determined both deaths were the result of suicide. Because of the manner of deaths, the identities of the deceased are not being released.
Local Politics
Maine Fishermen’s Forum
(Rockport) Shellfish, wind power, and working waterfront access. Those are a few of the topics being discussed at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum, which continues today in Rockport. Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher will be the keynote speaker at this morning’s 9 a.m. meeting of the Lobstermen’s Association. The event runs through Saturday and culminates tomorrow with an annual dance. The Pen Bay Pilot reports, the forum brings together fishermen, sea farmers, gear suppliers, state and federal scientists and regulators, and includes a trade show and seminars that are free to attend.
(Rockport) Fishermen, sea farmers, gear suppliers, scientists and regulators are gathered in Rockport today for the 49th Annual Fisherman’s Forum. The forum began yesterday with seminars and a trade show. The Pen Bay Pilot reports topics covered include shellfish, wind power, and working waterfront access. Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher is the keynote speaker this morning at a 9 a.m. gathering of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, the first organization to bring working lobstermen together to collaborate on solutions to problems faced by the industry. The Forum runs through Saturday, and is free to attend.
Judge Upholds Bar Harbor’s Limit on Cruise Ship Passenger Visits
(Bar Harbor) A win for the town of Bar Harbor Thursday. A federal judge ruled the town can limit cruise ship passenger visits to a thousand passengers a day. The Bangor Daily News reports the court determined the limit does not violate federal laws governing interstate commerce. The restriction was adopted by voters in 2022 amid concerns about the impact of cruise ships on the town during the busy tourist season. A group of local businesses, pier operators and tour companies sued the town last year, claiming the limit violated federal maritime law and would hurt business. Attorneys representing the local businesses say they are still reviewing the decision.
(Bar Harbor) Overcrowding, congestion, and environmental impact – those were concerns expressed in a survey of Bar Harbor residents and property owners in 2021 regarding the impact of cruise ship visitors on the tourist town. As a result, voters the following year approved a limit of a thousand passengers a day disembarking during the busy summer season. But a group of local businesses, pier operators and tour companies sued the town last year, claiming the limit violated federal maritime law and would hurt business. Yesterday, a federal judge ruled in favor of the town. The Bangor Daily News reports the court determined the limit does not violate federal laws governing interstate commerce. Attorneys representing the local businesses say they are still reviewing the decision.
Economy
City of Ellsworth Property Taxes Coming Due
(Ellsworth) The City of Ellsworth reminds property owners the second half of property taxes are due March 14th. Payments can be made online or at City Hall during regular business hours. In-person checks and cash are free of fees – card transactions carry a 2.5% service fee, and online check payments have a flat $2.50 fee per check. Interest begins March 15th.
(Ellsworth) If you’re an Ellsworth property owner, the City wants to remind you the second half of property taxes are due March 14th. Payments can be made online or at City Hall during regular business hours. In-person checks and cash are free of fees – card transactions carry a 2.5% service fee, and online check payments have a flat $2.50 per check fee. Interest begins March 15th.
Bank’s Charitable Giving Benefits Maine Non-profits
(Bar Harbor) Four Maine non-profits are the latest to benefit from Bar Harbor Bank & Trust’s employee-driven charitable giving program. Casual for a Cause raised $21,000 dollars in the fourth quarter of 2023. Bank employees dress casually on Fridays in exchange for bi-weekly payroll deductions. The most recent funds will be split among eight non-profits in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, including Maine Seacoast Mission, Maine Maritime Academy, Knox County Homeless Coalition and Tedford Housing in Brunswick. Maine Seacoast Mission says it will apply the donation to its Journey program, which serves 7th to 12th graders in Washington County.
(Bar Harbor) You might call it jeans for generosity; Bar Harbor Bank & Trust calls it Casual for a Cause. The employee-driven giving program allows employees to dress down on Fridays in exchange for biweekly payroll deductions that benefit non-profits in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The program generated $21,000 in the fourth quarter of 2023. Monies will be split among eight non-profits, including Maine Seacoast Mission, Maine Maritime Academy, Knox County Homeless Coalition, and Brunswick’s Tedford Housing. . Maine Seacoast Mission says it will apply the donation to its Journey program, which serves 7th to 12th graders in Washington County.
Technology
Non-profits Work Together to Advance Digital Equity in Maine
(Cherryfield) Three nonprofits joined forces to help close the digital gap faced by residents of Maine’s rural areas and unbridged islands. Maine Seacoast Mission last year partnered with Island Institute and Sunrise County Economic Council to build a statewide Digital Equity Plan. MSM focused on Washington, Hancock, and Waldo Counties, with staff researching connectivity habits and needs in those areas. Washington County’s digital equity plan includes educating residents about the Affordable Connectivity Program, offering financial affordability, access to equipment, and support for training. The program gives qualified applicants, including those on SNAP, WIC, and SSI, a $30 credit toward the cost of internet. As of 2023, only 30 percent of eligible Washington County households had applied.
(Cherryfield) It’s a digital world; yet many of Maine’s rural areas and unbridged islands still don’t have the digital equity afforded more urban areas in the state. In 2023, Maine Seacoast Mission joined with two other nonprofits to build a statewide Digital Equity Plan. The Mission focused on Washington, Hancock, and Waldo Counties, looking at connectivity habits and needs in those areas. Washington County’s digital equity plan includes educating residents about the Affordable Connectivity Program, offering financial affordability, access to equipment, and support for training. The program gives qualified applicants, including those on SNAP, WIC, and SSI, a $30 credit toward the cost of internet. As of 2023, only 30 percent of eligible Washington County households had applied.
Infrastructure
2024 Maine Infrastructure Grants
(Maine) Mariaville will use its funds to stabilize a road to the volunteer fire department. The Town of Stonington will re-engineer and elevate a section of Oceanville Road. Castine will produce a phased plan for redesign of the town dock area. Funds for these and other projects are part of $5.4M in grant awards announced Thursday, designed to protect vulnerable infrastructure from flooding and extreme storms. Thirty-seven communities throughout Maine will receive the awards as part of the Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund. The projects include $4M for 20 culverts in 18 communities that will match local funding to replace culverts that are at risk of washout or collapse.
(Maine) Bar Harbor, Prospect, Stonington, and Mariaville are among 37 communities that will share $5.4M in grant awards designed to protect vulnerable infrastructure from flooding and extreme storms. The grants, announced Thursday, are part of the Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund. Amounts vary from $36K to Mariaville to stabilize a road to the volunteer fire department to $125,000K to Stonington to elevate a section of Oceanville Road. Eighteen communities will receive $200K each in matching funds to replace culverts at risk of washout or collapse.
Bangor International Airport to Undergo Facelift
(Bangor) Bangor International Airport is readying for takeoff on a project that will improve the terminals and include runway reconstruction. WABI-TV reports the airport was awarded just over $14M in 2022 to build a connector between the terminal buildings. Work on the two year project will be done in phases and is expected to begin this spring and last through summer this year. Airport officials say flights may be slightly impacted, but that the effect on passenger traffic would be minimal.
(Bangor) Airport officials at Bangor International are getting ready for improvement projects that are expected to take wing beginning this spring. WABI-TV reports the airport was awarded just over $14M in 2022 to build a connector between the terminal buildings. BIA also has plans for runway reconstruction. Work on the two year project will be done in phases and is expected last through summer this year. Airport officials say flights may be slightly impacted, but that the effect on passenger traffic would be minimal.
Plans for Shore Path Rebuild Underway in Bar Harbor
(Bar Harbor) Plans to rebuild the Bar Harbor Shore Path damaged by back-to-back storms in January are underway. Repair of the path, a half-mile walkway running from the town pier to Wayman Lane, is estimated to cost $900,000. The Mount Desert Islander reports the Bar Harbor Village Improvement Association, or VIA, maintains the path on behalf of the property owners, who have allowed the trail to pass by their properties since 1881. Parts of the seawall will need to be rebuilt and the walkway resurfaced. A timeline for reopening the path is unclear. The VIA has pledged $300,000 toward the project, and community members have added donations of about $70,000. Tax deductible donations may be sent to Box 52, Bar Harbor.
(Bar) Among coastline areas decimated by back to back January storms was the half mile walkway known as the Bar Harbor Shore Path. Repair of the path will include rebuilding part of the seawall and resurfacing the walkway, at an estimated cost of about $900,000. The Mount Desert Islander reports the Bar Harbor Village Improvement Association, or VIA, maintains the path, which runs from the town pier to Wyman Lane, on behalf of the property owners, who have allowed trail access since 1881. The VIA has pledged $300,000 toward the project, with community members contributing about $70,000 so far. Tax deductible donations can be sent to Box 52, Bar Harbor. A timeline for reopening the Shore Path is unknown; largely because workers and materials are in demand, since so much of the coastline suffered damage and is in need of repair.
Human Interest
Lamoine Half Marathon
(Lamoine) Plan ahead if you’re traveling to or through Lamoine on Saturday. The Downeast Family YMCA’s Lamoine Half Marathon begins and ends at Lamoine Beach that day, and the organizers ask that you drive courteously and make sure your dogs are secured. The race begins at 8 a.m., with runners likely on the roads between 8 and 10. The deadline to register has passed, but runners paid just $13.10 to enter the race – because, of course, a half marathon is 13.1 miles. Good luck to all the runners and volunteers.
(Lamoine) You’ll want to use caution in the Lamoine area tomorrow. The Lamoine Half Marathon, sponsored by the Downeast Family YMCA., begins and ends at Lamoine Beach, with runners on the roads between 8 and 10. Race organizers ask you to be patient and courteous if driving in the area Saturday morning, and they also ask that you please secure your dogs. The registration deadline has passed, but runners paid just $13.10 to enter the competition, because, of course, a half marathon is 13.1 miles. Good luck to all the runners and volunteers.
Sports
Good luck to the Orono boys tonight at the Cross Insurance Center as they play to defend their Class B North State Basketball Championship – going up against Oceanside and the Oceanside girls take on Old Town. Tip-off set for 7:45.
Bruins beat the Golden Knights 5-4 last night in Boston. Bruins in NY Saturday to skate against the Islanders
The Celtics ring in March with a game against the Dallas Mavericks this evening in Boston.