Crime, Public Safety, Drugs
Ellsworth Drug Arrest
(Ellsworth) Authorities Monday arrested a Massachusetts man at a hotel in Ellsworth and charged him with felony drug trafficking. Members of MDEA’s Down East Task Force had been working with the Ellsworth Police Department to investigate complaints of suspected trafficking from a room at the Hawthorn Extended Stay Hotel on High Street next to Hannaford’s. At about 9:30 Monday evening, officers executed a search warrant on the room and reportedly found crack, fentanyl, and other drugs and suspected drug proceeds. 40 yo Asa Polk of Boston was arrested and charged. He’s set to be arraigned later today in Hancock County Court.
(Ellsworth) Arraignment is set for later today for a Boston man suspected of trafficking drugs out of a room at the Hawthorn Extended Stay Hotel on High Street in Ellsworth. Members of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Ellsworth Police Department had been conducting surveillance on the room after receiving complaints of suspected drug trafficking. At about 9:30 Monday evening, officers executed a search warrant on the room and reportedly found crack, fentanyl, and other drugs and suspected drug proceeds. 40 yo Asa Polk of Boston was arrested and charged with two counts of trafficking and other drug-related charges.. No bail was set due to the seriousness of charges against Polk.
Bangor Airport Incident
(Bangor) Officials at Bangor International Airport were on high alert Tuesday morning after a bomb sniffing canine honed in on a piece of luggage. The bomb squad was called in about 9 a.m., examined the luggage and said they found nothing suspicious or illegal.
(Bangor) Tense moments at Bangor International Airport yesterday morning. The bomb squad was called to the airport about 9 a.m. after an explosives sniffing canine honed in on a piece of luggage. The bomb squad examined the luggage but say nothing suspicious or illegal was found.
Early Season Hiking Safety
(Maine) Warm weather got you itching to get back out on the trails? The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife says that’s great – but remember to hike safely. They say many trails are still covered in ice and snow, and the roads to get to them are often muddy. MDIFW offers these early season hiking reminders: Always tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return, remember conditions vary widely with elevation, don’t forget it gets dark earlier in the spring, so have a flashlight, dress for the weather in plenty of layers, pack essential items like water, snacks, and a fire starter, wear proper footwear, and be prepared for no cell service.
(Maine) Pack in, pack out – that’s just one of the reminders from folks at The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, who say they know the warm weather has hikers ready to hit the trails. But, they caution, many trails are still icy and snow covered, and the roads to reach them are muddy. To stay safe, MDIFW offers these additional tips: Always tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return, remember conditions vary widely with elevation, don’t forget it gets dark earlier in the spring, so have a flashlight, dress for the weather in layers, pack essential items like water, snacks, and a fire starter, wear proper footwear, and be prepared for no cell service.
Skunk Tests Positive for Rabies
(Ellsworth) If you live in Ellsworth in particular, make sure your pets are up to date on their rabies vaccines. The Maine CDC confirmed a skunk from Ellsworth tested positive for the disease on March 29th. The skunk reportedly bit and scratched a dog two days earlier. The dog received a booster dose of the rabies vaccine and is currently under observation.
(Ellsworth) A skunk captured in Ellsworth on March 29th has tested positive for rabies. According to the Maine CDC, the skunk got into a fight with a dog two days earlier, leaving bite marks and scratches. The dog has reportedly received a booster dose of the rabies vaccine and is currently under observation.
Economy
MDI Housing Summit
(Bar Harbor) The 2024 MDI Housing Solutions Summit is a wrap. More than 70 members of local businesses, non-profits, local builders, and municipal and state leaders from around the area gathered in Bar Harbor last month to share updates, celebrate achievements, and continue to work toward finding solutions. Notable progress included the Witham Family Hotels’ new seasonal workforce building, College of the Atlantic’s new on-campus dorm and purchase of housing on Cottage Avenue, and Island Housing Trust’s completion of their new Jones Marsh neighborhood. A summary of outcomes of this year’s gathering will be posted at m d i housing solutions dot org.
(Bar Harbor) It was a morning of celebrating successes and working toward future solutions to the affordable housing crisis. The 2024 MDI Housing Solutions Summit recently wrapped up a second year of bringing together dozens of leaders from local businesses, non-profits, engineers, lenders, real estate agents and others to build on last year’s work and to develop housing goals that were later prioritized for the coming year. Achievements from the past year included the YWCA’s Hamilton Station project, Bar Harbor’s work on their comprehensive plan, COA’s purchase of buildings on Cottage Avenue for housing staff, and the MDI and Ellsworth Housing Authorities’ efforts to expand their services. A summary of outcomes of this year’s gathering will be posted at m d i housing solutions dot org.
Environment
Annual Card Brook Cleanup
(Ellsworth) It’s almost time for Ellsworth’s Annual Card Brook and Roadside Cleanup. Card Brook is the City’s urban stream … so it, sadly, often gets trashed with everything from fast food trash to tires. The event begins in the parking lot to the right of Hannaford at 9 a.m. on April 20th – that just happens to be Earth Day. Volunteers are advised to wear sturdy footwear that can get wet and muddy. Hand sanitizer, trash bags, work gloves and bottled water will be provided. And the Ellsworth Moose Lodge will provide a cookout following the morning’s work. Pre-register by emailing m condon at ellsworth maine dot gov.
(Ellsworth) Earth Day is just ten days away, and the City of Ellsworth will once again be hosting the Annual Card Brook and Roadside Cleanup. Sign up to participate at 669-6616, then meet in the parking lot to the right of Hannaford at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 20th. Be sure to wear sturdy, waterproof footwear – gloves, hand sanitizer, trash bags, and bottled water will be provided. The Ellsworth Moose Lodge will treat you to a cookout afterwards. And to participate in the roadside cleanup, which will go through the following week, contact the city to receive a roadside assignment and get your trash bags.
Lubec Preservation
(Lubec) During the peak of the fish industry in the 1920s, Lubec was bustling with more than 20 sardine canneries and almost 30 herring smokehouses. With the closing of the McCurdy Smokehouse complex in 1991, commercial herring smoking vanished in the US, with government regulations largely putting an end to the canneries. MaineBiz reports there’s now a move underway to preserve a part of that heritage with restoration of the McCurdy Smokehouse, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Eastport’s Tides Institute and Preservation Timber Framing of Berwick are working to assess restoration costs. Lubec Landmarks, which owns the complex, opened one of the buildings as a museum in 2007, an attraction that draws between 600 and a thousand visitors each summer.
(Lubec) If you could travel back in time a century, you’d find the town of Lubec teeming with more than 20 sardine canneries and almost 30 herring smokehouses. Over the years, government regulations pretty much wiped out the canneries; and with the closing of the McCurdy Smokehouse complex in 1991, commercial herring smoking vanished in the US. MaineBiz reports there’s a move underway to preserve that part of Lubec’s heritage by restoring the McCurdy facility, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Lubec Landmarks owns the McCurdy complex and has opened one of the buildings as a museum. It’s working with the Tides Institute of Eastport and Preservation Timber Framing of Berwick to assess restoration requirements and costs.
Infrastructure
Maine DOT Measures Heavy Traffic
(Augusta) This will come as no surprise to those caught up in Monday’s eclipse traffic, but the Maine Department of Transportation says traffic volume on some state highways Monday was between 10 and 20 times greater than normal. An estimated 15,000 vehicles reportedly came into the state to witness the phenomenon, with many more traveling within the state to experience the path of totality. Prior to the eclipse, the biggest backup was a one-hour delay on Route 201 between Skowhegan and Jackman. Following the eclipse, multi-hour backups were reported in the western and central parts of the state, with the most congestion on I-95 north of Bangor, and Routes 6, 27, and 201. The biggest traffic backup after the eclipse was a four-hour delay on Route 201 between Jackman and Skowhegan.
(Augusta) Travelers on Route 201 between Jackman and Skowhegan Monday experienced delays of up to four hours following the eclipse. And while the Maine Department of Transportation says that was the biggest traffic backup, there were numerous other multi-hour backups in the western and central parts of the state, with the most congestion on I-95 north of Bangor, Routes 6, 7, and 201. MDOT monitored traffic coming into the state over the weekend and estimates about 15,000 motorists came into Maine to witness the phenomenon, with many more traveling within the state to experience the path of totality.
Education
COA Names Seventh President
(Bar Harbor) College of the Atlantic has named its seventh President. Dr. Sylvia Torti will succeed President Darron Collins when he retires at the end of this academic year. Torti has 15 years’ experience in higher education and says she believes deeply in COA’s mission and looks forward to leading the college beginning July 1st. Dr. Torti received unanimous approval from the COA Board of Trustees.
(Bar Harbor) College of the Atlantic has named Dr. Sylvia Torti as its seventh President. Dr. Torti will succeed President Darron Collins when he retires on July 1st. Torti is an accomplished writer, ecologist, and academic leader with 15 years experience in higher education, most recently serving as Dean of the Honors College at University of Utah, where she tripled the diversity of the student body and increased the number of out-of-state students.
Human Interest
Ellsworth Public Library Celebrates National Library Week
(Ellsworth) This is National Library Week, and the Ellsworth Public Library is giving you one more great reason to get a library card – or replace your old one. The library teamed with local artists Hana Firestone and Brian Estes who designed a pair of limited-edition library cards. Five hundred cards of each design are available while they last. Current library patrons who want to replace their cards are asked for a $10 donation. To apply for a card, stop by the circulation desk with your photo ID that has your current address, or you can bring proof of address separately.
(Ellsworth) Those magical library cards – they open the door to worlds of imagination for children and adults alike. This week at the Ellsworth Public Library, they’re more magical than ever. During National Library Week, the library teamed with local artists Hana Firestone and Brian Estes, who designed a pair of limited-edition cards. Five hundred of each design are available; and if you already have a library card, you’re simply asked for a $10 donation. Getting a card couldn’t be more simple – stop by the circulation desk with your photo ID and proof of address and you’re “in” … with books, periodicals, movies, resources, technology, and so much more.
Local Show Choirs Bring Home the Bling
(Ellsworth) And a big congratulations to some very talented local show choirs. MDI High School brought home the gold, and Ellsworth High School a silver for their performances at last weekend’s Maine Jazz Festival Vocal Finals. The Middle School choirs of Conners Emerson, Mount Desert, and Trenton did a combined performance that captured high silver.
(MDI) Local show choirs are singing a happy tune today. MDI High School brought home the gold, and Ellsworth High School a silver for their performances at the Maine Jazz Festival Vocal Finals. The Middle School choirs of Conners Emerson, Mount Desert, and Trenton did a combined performance that captured high silver. Congratulations!
Sports
Red Sox beat the Orioles 7-1 in their season home opener on Tuesday. The teams go bat to base again tonight at Fenway.
The Carolina Hurricanes stormed past the Bruins last night 4-1. Bruins off now until Saturday when they head to Pittsburgh to skate against the Penguins.
Celtics lost to the Bucks last night in Milwaukee – 104-91. Celtics off tonight – they’re back on the home court Thursday to take on the New York Knicks.