Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Fire Safety Tips to Keep Valentine’s Day Safety
(Undated) This Valentine’s Day, make sure your romantic gestures stay memorable for the right reasons. Whether you’re lighting a mood-setting candle or cooking up a special meal, the National Fire Protection Association offers these tips for staying safe. They say stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, or boiling food, keep a lid nearby in case a small grease fire starts, set a timer to remind you you’re cooking, and establish a pet and kid friendly zone of at least three feet around that stove. If using real candles, don’t use them in bedrooms, bathrooms or sleeping areas, never leave candles unattended, keep pets and loose clothing and hair away from those flames, and be sure to blow them out when you leave the room.
(Undated) Have a heart this Valentine’s Day – make sure you and your loved ones don’t get burned … literally. The National Fire Protection Association reminds folks if you’re lighting get-in-the-mood candles, keep them away from pets, clothing, and hair, make sure they’re in a stable container, and blow them out before you leave the room. Candles are a leading cause of home fires, with at least a third of those starting in the bedroom. When preparing that special meal, keep a fire blanket – or at the very least, a pan lid – handy to cover the pan in case of a small grease fire. Stay in the kitchen when using the stovetop, and set a timer to remind yourself you’re cooking. Your loved ones will love YOU for keeping them safe.
No Ill Will Discovered in Box Left at Augusta Goodwill
(Augusta) Authorities say they don’t think there was any ILL will in a suspicious package discovered at an Augusta GOODwill on Tuesday. Augusta Police Chief Kevin Lully tells Star 97.7, authorities responded to the store after a box containing possible grenades and/or mortars was discovered with some donated items. There were no threats communicated, nor was there any indication of ill intent from the person who dropped off the box. The store was evacuated out of an abundance of caution, but has since reopened. The Maine State Police Bomb Squad was called and immediately secured the items.
(Augusta) Goodwill stores receive all kinds of unusual items, but a suspicious package left at an Augusta Goodwill on Tuesday resulted in the Maine State Police Bomb Squad being called in. Augusta Police Chief Kevin Lully tells Star 97.7, authorities responded to the store after a box containing possible grenades and/or mortars was discovered among other donated items. Chief Lully said there were no threats communicated, nor was there any indication of ill intent by the person who dropped off the box. Out of an abundance of caution, the store was evacuated and temporarily closed. The bomb squad immediately secured the items, and store employees were able to resume operations.
Knox RCC Continues to Struggle with Staffing
(Rockland) The Knox Regional Communications Center is once again facing a personnel crisis. The Pen Bay Pilot reports the Rockland-based 9-1-1 call center is so short staffed, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office has stepped in with deputies to help field emergency calls. Municipal fire and police chiefs have reportedly become so concerned, they’re exploring their own solutions. Previous shortages led to the Waldo County RCC taking over Knox County calls between August 2023 and May 2024. Knox County Commissioners and staff insist they are able to get the center back on track and will fill the ranks of six to 12 full time employees soon.
(Rockland) Staffing problems continue to plague the Knox County RCC. The Rockland-based 9-1-1 call center was so short staffed in 2023, calls had to be fielded through the Waldo County RCC between August and the following May. The Pen Bay Pilot reports Knox County Sheriff’s deputies have stepped in to help; but municipal police and fire chiefs have become so concerned, they’re reportedly exploring their own solutions. Knox County Commissioners and staff insist they are able to get the center back on track and will fill the ranks of six to 12 full time employees soon.
Local Politics
Legislators Pass Governor Mills’s Supplemental Budget
(Augusta) Democratic state lawmakers agreed last night to advance Governor Mill’s Supplemental budget. However, it still faces additional votes in both the House and Senate before being officially passed. There is concern as the budget includes emergency legislation to ensure MaineCare recipients continue receiving benefits. The legislature will pick at it again on February 25th.
(Augusta) Lawmakers in the Maine Senate and House voted to advance a $121M supplemental budget proposal Tuesday. The Portland Press Herald reports the House vote was 73-71, while the Senate’s was 20-14. The spending package adds to the current $10.5B biennial budget and is primarily aimed at closing a $118M gap in MaineCare costs this year.
King Co-Sponsors Legislation to Protect Kids from Harmful Impacts of Social Media
(Washington, DC) How do we protect young people from the harmful impacts of social media? Senator Angus King and a bipartisan coalition hope the “Kids Off Social Media Act” would provide some safeguards. The legislation would enforce minimum age limits to use social media platforms and prevent social media companies from feeding algorithmically-targeted content to users under the age of 17. The legislation would also prohibit social media platforms from allowing children under the age of 13 to create or maintain social media accounts and would provide the FTC and state attorneys authority to enforce the provisions of the bill. King’s office says studies have shown a strong relationship between social media use and poor mental health, especially among children.
(Washington, DC) Studies have shown a strong relationship between social media use and poor mental health, especially among children. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory, calling for new policies to set and enforce age minimums and better regulate the use of social media by young people. Senator Angus King has joined a bipartisan coalition of legislators in introducing the “Kids Off Social Media Act”. Among other safeguards, the legislation would prohibit social media companies from pushing targeted content using algorithms to users under the age of 17 and would require schools to work in good faith to limit social media on their federally-funded networks, which many schools already do. King has long been an advocate of protecting children online and has previously co-sponsored legislation to that end.
Economy
Bar Harbor Braces for Economic Impact of Cruise Ship Limits
(Bar Harbor) Bar Harbor officials are scrambling to reconcile an upcoming town budget with anticipated heavy revenue losses attributed to limiting the number of cruise ship passengers that can disembark each day. The Mount Desert Islander reports among actions designed to ease the burden on taxpayers, passenger service fees will more than triple – from $2.84 per passenger to $9.45; and port development fees will nearly double, from $2.53 to $4.55 per disembarking passenger. The budget committee also anticipates making cuts to expenses, such as funding for the Island Explorer and port infrastructure. The Cruise Lines International Association has yet to weigh in on the changes and whether individual cruise lines are still interested in calling on the town in the future.
(Bar Harbor) The ordinance limiting the number of cruise ship passengers that can disembark each day in Bar Harbor is weighing heavy on the town’s budget committee. Passenger cutbacks are expected to seriously impact the town’s revenue stream. The Mount Desert Islander reports among actions designed to ease the burden on taxpayers, passenger service fees will more than triple from $2.84 per passenger to $9.45, and port development fees will nearly double, from $2.53 to $4.55 per disembarking passenger. Cuts are on the table, as well, including to expenses such as the Island Explorer and port infrastructure. The Cruise Lines International Association says it is closely monitoring Bar Harbor and remains committed to partnering on balanced and effective tourism management solutions.
URCI Launches Business Attraction Survey
(Ellsworth) The Union River Center for Innovation and the City of Ellsworth are working to implement some of the City’s Business Attraction Plan. In order to facilitate that, they’ve developed a survey geared toward entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs in two sectors – Specialty Food and Beverage Manufacturing and Sales, and Design, Construction and Maintenance. URCI hopes to, through the survey, establish focus groups from each sector. The survey is live through the end of February on the URCI website, union river innovation dot com. We’ve also shared the link on our Star 97.7 FB page.
(Ellsworth) The City of Ellsworth and the Union River Center for Innovation are working to implement some of the City’s Business Attraction Plan. Currently, they’re seeking input from entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs in two sectors identified as being well suited to operate in Ellsworth – Specialty Food and Beverage Manufacturing and Sales, and Design, Construction and Maintenance. Through the survey, URCI hopes to establish advisory panels from each sector. You can access the survey through the end of February on the URCI website and also on our Star 97.7 FB page.
Education
Wendell Gilley Museum Offering Free Programs
(SW Harbor) The Wendell Gilley Museum in SW Harbor is offering free programs to classes from any Hancock County school and home schoolers. The Mount Desert Islander reports the programs are made possible thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor. The Gilley offers school programs for grades K-12, each with a nature or art component or both. Programs can be customized for the needs of different classes. Find out more or schedule a class visit by calling the Gilley at 244-7555.
(SW Harbor) The folks at the Wendell Gilley Museum in SW Harbor will tell you learning at the Gilley is about letting minds explore and hands create. Thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor, the Gilley is now offering free programs to classes from any Hancock County school and home schoolers. The Mount Desert Islander reports the Gilley offers school programs for grades K-12, each with a nature or art component or both. Programs can be customized for the needs of different classes. Find out more or schedule a class visit by calling the Gilley at 244-7555.
Environment
Maine Group Launches 10-Year Plan for Fostering Diversity in Maine’s Outdoors
(Maine) Maine is an outdoor recreation enthusiast’s dream. A coalition of stakeholders is looking to advance the state’s recreation industry, which contributes more than $3B a year to the state’s economy. According to MaineBiz, that’s 3.7% of its GDP – the sixth largest in the nation. Recently, the coalition, led by Maine Outdoor Brands, Maine’s Office of Outdoor Recreation, the University of Maine and others, released a 10-year plan designed to bolster the industry through economic investments, workforce expansion, and community revitalization. The plan, “Maine’s Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap”, includes creating a “compelling narrative” that resonates with policymakers, consumers, investors, economic developers, and educators and calls for investing in modern, resilient infrastructure that meets the needs of current and future outdoor enthusiasts.
(Maine) Ski, sail, hike, kayak, fish – no matter the season, when it comes to outdoor recreation, Maine has it all. MaineBiz reports the state’s recreation industry adds more than $3B a year to the economy, the sixth largest GDP contribution in the nation. Recently, a coalition of stakeholders released a 10-year plan to grow the industry. The strategic plan is being led by Maine’s Bureau of Parks and Lands, Maine Technology Institute, the Maine Marine Trades Association and others. The group says it’s essential to invest in modern, resilient infrastructure that meets the needs of current and future outdoor enthusiasts, including improving community walk- and bike-ability, developing climate resilient trail networks, and enhancing facilities like parking and boat launches. The plan also calls for fostering diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Sports
The Celtics home tonight against the San Antonio Spurs.
Earlier this week, we had some amazing stats on the Ellsworth High School athletes and their state championship wins in cheerleading and swimming and diving. Seems congratulations are also in order to the MDI High School girls swim and dive team! They captured the PVC Championship this weekend at Husson University with 322 points to Northern Penobscot’s 188. Patrick Saltysiak of MDI was the top boys’ performer.
In the Class D girls’ basketball prelims, Jonesport-Beals defeated Katahdin 61-54 in overtime. The #10 seeded Royals advance to a Saturday quarterfinal in Bangor against #2 Central Aroostook.