Local Politics
Moshier Placed on Leave from City Manager Position
(Ellsworth) Ellsworth City Council has placed City Manager Glenn Moshier on paid administrative leave. Council convened in Executive Session Monday evening to address confidential personnel matters, subsequently voting 6-0 on the matter. Councilor Tammy Mote was absent. The move comes a little over two months after Moshier was placed on leave from his job as police chief. State law prohibits disclosure of specifics on confidential personnel matters. It was just a week ago in announcing the hiring of a new city manager that the City extended “its deepest gratitude” to Moshier for his “outstanding service over the past three years as City Manager and his twenty years with the City”, commending him for an exceptional job. A follow up Special City Council meeting scheduled for March 11th will also be held in Executive Session and is said to pertain to personnel matters. City Planner Matthew Williams is serving as Interim City Manager until new hire Charles Pearce officially steps into the role on April 1st.
(Ellsworth) It was just a week ago in announcing the hiring of a new City Manager, that the City of Ellsworth extended “its deepest gratitude” to Glenn Moshier for his “outstanding service over the past three years as City Manager and his twenty years with the City”, commending him for an exceptional job. So it came as a surprise Tuesday when the City announced Moshier had been placed on leave from that role. Council convened in Executive Session Monday evening to address confidential personnel matters, subsequently voting 6-0 on the matter. Councilor Tammy Mote was absent. The move comes a little over two months after Moshier was placed on leave from his job as police chief. State law prohibits disclosure of specifics on confidential personnel matters. A follow up Special City Council meeting scheduled for March 11th will also be held in Executive Session and is said to pertain to personnel matters. City Planner Matthew Williams was tapped to serve as Interim City Manager until new hire Charles Pearce officially steps into the role on April 1st.
Super Tuesday
(Undated) Donald Trump and President Joe Biden pulled off decisive wins on Super Tuesday, but it wasn’t a clean sweep for either. Nikki Haley won the Republican primary in Vermont, and a relatively unknown entrepreneur, Jason Palmer, captured American Samoa for the Democrats, one of the few places Palmer campaigned.
Machiasport Voters OK Eminent Domain Action for New Road
(Machiasport) Machiasport residents voted overwhelmingly at a recent town meeting to take a strip of two property owners’ lands by eminent domain. The land will be used to replace a narrow, deteriorating access track with a two-lane public roadway. The Machias Valley News Observer reports the 50 foot wide parcel in question crosses lots in the Starboard district and will be used for a public road accessing Point of Maine and private properties beyond. Officials say the vote caps a years-long battle. They say the current road, which runs along Starboard Cove and has been used by generations of local lobstermen, is crumbling and in need of being replaced. At least one of the property owners plans to challenge the decision.
(Machiasport) A 50 foot wide strip of land in Machiasport has reportedly been the center of a years-long battle. The Machias Valley News Observer reports voters at last month’s town meeting chose overwhelmingly to take the land, which belongs to two separate property owners, by eminent domain, in order to build a two-lane public road accessing Point of Maine and private properties beyond. The current narrow, single lane road that runs along Starboard Cove has been used by generations of local lobstermen and has badly deteriorated. At least one of the landowners, a New Jersey family, says it will challenge the decision.
Economy
Blaine House Maple Tree Tapped Ahead of Maine Maple Weekend
(Augusta) It’s the sweetest weekend of the year in Maine – we’re talking Maine Maple Sunday Weekend. Governor Janet Mills and Maine Maple Producers President Lyle Merrifield yesterday tapped the Blaine House Maple Tree, setting the stage for this year’s March 23rd and 24th celebration. Maine’s maple syrup industry generates about $55M annually, and supports 800 full and part time jobs across the state. Sugar shacks across the state will open their doors for free events during the special weekend. Maine is the country’s third largest producer of maple syrup, behind Vermont and New York.
(Augusta) There’s no sweeter time of year in Maine than Maine Maple Sunday Weekend, this year March 23rd and 24th. To kick off the season, Governor Janet Mills and Maine Maple Producers President Lyle Merrifield yesterday tapped the Blaine House Maple Tree. Maine is home to 450 producers licensed to sell maple products, with most being small, artisan businesses focused on high quality products and customer relationships. Sugar shacks across the state will open their doors for tours and other free events during the special weekend. Maine produces more than 575,000 gallons of syrup each year – and as someone once said, nobody does it better.
Second Maine Space Conference Planned
(Portland) Riding on the success of the inaugural event, the Maine Space Grant Consortium is making plans for a second Maine Space Conference in October. MaineBiz reports tickets for last year’s 3-day conference in November sold out, drawing over 300 people – including members of key industries, such as NASA, RAND Corporation, Teledyne and Rogue Space Systems. This year’s conference is planned for October 23-25 in Portland and is being positioned as an invitation for the global space community to engage with Maine’s rapidly growing space economy and to raise awareness of the state’s manufacturing and workforce offerings.
(Portland) Space may be the final frontier, but Maine is positioning itself as a launching point for the space industry. MaineBiz reports that riding on the success of November’s inaugural Maine Space Conference, plans are underway for a second event this October. Last year’s conference sold out, drawing more than 300 people, including members of key industries, such as NASA, Foundation for the Future, Manufacturers Association of Maine, and Teledyne – which, following the conference, announced plans to open an office at Brunswick Landing. Conference organizers hope to draw members of the global space community and continue to raise awareness of Maine’s rapidly growing space economy and its manufacturing and workforce capabilities.
MCFA Donates Haddock to Ellsworth Schools
(Ellsworth) There’s a sea of happiness these days at the Ellsworth School Department. They recently received 200 hundred pounds of fresh frozen haddock from the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association. The fish will be used in the district’s school lunch program. The organization’s Fishermen Feeding Mainers program has been feeding communities for generations and continues to work toward feeding the most vulnerable and those who struggle with food security. MCFA, in turn, provides direct financial relief to fishermen by purchasing their catch, paying local processors to cut and freeze the fish, and helping fishermen supply food banks and families in need.
(Ellsworth) The Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association is swimming in good works. Through their Fishermen Feeding Mainers program, MCFA provides direct financial relief to fishermen by purchasing their catch, paying local processors to cut and freeze the fish, and helping fishermen supply food banks and families in need. As part of the program, FFM recently donated 200 pounds of fresh frozen haddock to Ellsworth City Schools for their school lunches. Fishermen Feeding Mainers has been feeding communities for generations and continues to work toward feeding the most vulnerable and those who struggle with food security.
Education
MaineCF Scholarships for Graduating Student Leaders
(Ellsworth) If you know a graduating high school senior who has shown leadership skills, encourage them to apply for the Chet Jordan Leadership Award scholarship through the Maine Community Foundation. Recipients should be independent thinkers who demonstrate initiative, hard work, and the ability to lead others in their communities, and must be pursuing post-secondary study at a university, college, or vocational or technical school here in Maine. Apply by April 15th at maine c f dot org forward slash scholarships.
(Ellsworth) The Maine Community Foundation is looking for graduating high school seniors who show leadership skills, initiative, are independent thinkers, and who work hard and are skilled at leading others in their communities. If you know of or are such a young person and plan to pursue post-secondary study at a university, college, or vocational or technical school here in Maine, consider applying for MaineCF’s Chet Jordan Leadership Award scholarship. Apply by April 15th at maine c f dot org forward slash scholarships.
NVME Adds Free Student Loan Repayment Counseling
(Bangor) When it comes to repaying those student loans, do you find yourself earning a failing grade? New Ventures Maine has added a free service – student loan repayment counseling. If you have a loan that is past due or in default, need help choosing a repayment plan, or have questions about loan forgiveness programs, you can schedule a repayment counseling session in person, online via Zoom, or by phone. Check them out at new ventures maine dot org.
(Bangor) Drowning in student loan debt? Have questions about those student loan forgiveness programs? Wondering about debt consolidation? New Ventures Maine has added a free service – student loan repayment counseling. If you have questions or have a loan that’s past due or in default, you can schedule a repayment counseling session in person, online via Zoom, or by phone. Check them out at new ventures maine dot org.
Health
Pharmacy Shortage
(Maine) A shortage of healthcare providers, a shortage of veterinarians, and now a shortage of pharmacies. Across Maine, a tenth of the state’s pharmacies have closed in the past decade, including the Rite-Aid in Ellsworth. The Maine Monitor reports as more close, those left, such as Seaside Pharmacy in Stonington, have had to shoulder a larger load. There are currently 283 pharmacies in the state, down from 314 in 2013. The pinch is especially painful in rural areas like Washington County, where 84% of residents live more than 15 minutes from the nearest pharmacy.
(Maine) In 2013, there were 314 pharmacies in the state of Maine; today there are 283, a ten percent drop in the last decade. The drop includes the Rite Aid in Ellsworth, which closed in May of 2018. The Maine Monitor reports close to 80% of those remaining are owned by chains, such as Hannaford and Walgreens. Just 20% are independently owned. One of those is Seaside Pharmacy in Stonington. Owner Doug Edinger regularly puts in 12 hour days and serves most of the island’s year-round population. He says closing is not an option, even at age 69, because the island needs a pharmacy. The pinch is especially felt in rural areas like Washington County, where 84% of residents live more than 15 minutes from the nearest pharmacy.
Environment
Maine Big Night at Woodlawn
(Ellsworth) Something happens when the warm, rainy nights of spring arrive – its a moving experience … quite literally. Frogs and salamanders embark on their migrations, moving by the thousands to their breeding locations. Sadly, as they move across roads, many don’t survive. So Maine Big Night Amphibian Migration Monitoring was founded to coordinate volunteers around the state to protect and study the migrating masses. Learn how you can participate locally, as Woodlawn Ellsworth presents the project’s creator, Greg LeClair from 3 to 4 p.m. on March 23rd. Space is limited, and you must RSVP to woodlawn ellsworth dot org. There’s a suggested donation of $5 per person.
(Ellsworth) It’s a truly moving experience – the warm, rainy nights of spring prompt masses of frogs and salamanders to move by the thousands to their breeding locations. Unfortunately, many don’t survive as the masses cross roadways. So Greg LeClair created Maine Big Night, an amphibian migration monitoring project that coordinates volunteers around the state to protect and study the migrating masses. On March 23rd, LeClair will let you know how you can participate locally, as part of Woodlawn Ellsworth’s Science Lecture Series. That’s Saturday, March 23rd, from 3-4 p.m. Space is limited – you just need to RSVP to Woodlawn Ellsworth dot org. There is a suggested donation of $5.
Human Interest
Eclipse Watch at Woodlawn
(Ellsworth) Can’t make it up north for the total solar eclipse? Woodlawn in Ellsworth is hosting a Solar Eclipse Watch party. Of course, that’s on Monday, April 8th, from 3 to 4 p.m. Certified safety shades will be provided while supplies last. They just ask that you RSVP at woodlawn ellsworth dot org.
(Ellsworth) Share the darkness at Woodlawn Ellsworth! If you’re hanging around town for the April 8th total solar eclipse, come join the Solar Eclipse Watch party from 3 to 4 pm that day. Certified safety shades will be provided while supplies last. They just ask that you RSVP at woodlawn ellsworth dot org.
Sports
Red Sox vs.Twins today at 1:05. (Red Sox vs. Braves Thursday, Rays on Saturday).
Bruins fall to Edmonton 2-1.. Bruins host the Maple Leafs on Thursday.
And the Cavs end the Celtics’ 11-game winning streak with a one-point win last night in Cleveland, 105-104. Celtics take shoot hoops with the Nuggets Thursday in Denver.