Happy Mother’s Day to all the many types of Moms out there! ♥
Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Arson Arrest
(Lewiston) Authorities have arrested a 37 yo homeless man in connection with a Wednesday night fire that destroyed a structure at Veterans Park in Lewiston. Crews were called to the blaze about 9 p.m. on May 7th and determined it was intentionally set. An investigation led police to arrest Josh Kyle, who admitted to lighting a blanket on fire inside the building. The structure reportedly had no electrical power and was valued at $3,000. Kyle was charged with arson and taken to the Androscoggin County Jail.
Rockland Fire and EMS Undergo Screenings
(Rockland) Cancer and cardiac disease are killing more firefighters than any other causes. The Pen Bay Pilot reports in 2023, 72% of “Line of Duty Deaths” were related to occupational cancer. Topping the list for firefighters … testicular, prostate, brain, colon, breast and other cancers. This week, members of the Rockland Fire and EMS underwent early screening procedures with United Diagnostic Services, partnering with the Maine Fire Chiefs Association to provide crucial early detection. RFD secured private funding to cover the $350 out-of-pocket fee charged to members, ensuring all personnel could receive the free screening.
Anderson Builders Replace EFD Windows
(Ellsworth) A huge thank you to Anderson Builders. The City of Ellsworth reports they recently replace the old, deteriorating Ellsworth Fire Department windows. Some of the original frames were in such bad shape, they actually crumbled and fell apart during removal! The City says the new windows are now installed and will soon be complemented by fresh landscaping in the garden beds.
Annual Maine Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Service Set for May 13th
(Augusta) Governor Janet Mills will deliver the keynote address at the annual observance at the Maine Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, set for Tuesday, May 13th, at 10 a.m. The memorial honors officers who have died in the line of duty. It’s located on State Street near the State Capitol in Augusta. The public is invited to attend, remember the heroes behind the badges, and support the families they left behind. Two more names will be added this year – Richard A. Betters of the Portland Police Department who suffered a heart attack in January 2009 shortly after entering a burning building and helping evacuate residents; and Herbert G. Tarbox, who passed in April 1959 after suffering a heart attack while himself administering first aid to a collapsed individual.
Local Politics
King Says Legislation Would Save Lives, Protect Second Amendment Rights for Law-Abiding Citizens
(Washington, DC) As mass shootings continue to needlessly kill or injure Americans, Senator Angus King is reintroducing legislation to curb such killings without, he says, hindering Second Amendment Rights. The Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion (GOSAFE) Act would protect communities from gun violence, while safeguarding law-abiding Americans’ constitutional right to own a firearm for legitimate self-defense, hunting, and sporting purposes by limiting features that allow for detachable high-capacity magazines. King says the legislation would also create a voluntary buy-back program for individuals who choose to get rid of their weapons.
Maine Legislature Hears Bills on Transgender Issue
(Augusta) The Maine legislature on Thursday heard a series of bills brought by Republicans and touted as measures designed to protect women in sports. Lawmakers heard day-long testimony from those on both sides of the issue. A poll shows 64% of Mainers do not favor transgender athletes participating in women’s sports. But opponents of the proposals say at least some of them subject Maine girls to invasive procedures and violate their personal privacy, with one bill designed to keep transgender women out of women’s shelters; another suggesting removal of the words “gender identity” from the Maine Human Rights Act. Governor Janet Mills has said only that the state’s policies are “worthy of a debate”.
Second Federal Judge Rules Against Dismantling of IMLS
(Rhode Island) Great news for the Maine State Library and the Ellsworth, Blue Hill, Jesup Memorial and other local libraries. A Rhode Island federal judge has ruled the gutting of the Institute of Museum and Library Services is likely unlawful. It’s the second such ruling in recent weeks. A March 14th Executive Order from the Trump Administration effectively began the process of eliminating the only federal agency dedicated to the nation’s libraries and museums, despite its funding constituting less than 3/1000th of the federal budget. Within hours, the American Library Association and others joined with allies to defend IMLS funding for libraries. On May 1st, a federal court granted a temporary restraining order, effectively halting the dismantling. While libraries everywhere say it’s a step forward, they acknowledge the fight is far from over.
Maine Lawmakers Advance Gun Safety Bills
(Augusta) Maine lawmakers this week advanced several gun safety bills out of committee, although the Maine Gun Safety Coalition says several more critical bills still need action. Legislators on the Judiciary Committee voted to advance bills that would require secure storage of firearms at home and in vehicles, and a bill prohibiting bump stocks that turn semi-automatic weapons into assault style weapons. GSC Executive Director Nacole Palmer said the Committee listened to the overwhelming majority of Maine voters. She urged the House and Senate in Maine to pass the bills she said would help reduce crime, save lives, and keep communities safe.
Nurses Protest Closure of MDI Hospital’s Obstetrics Department
(Bar Harbor) Nurses from Portland to Fort Kent yesterday gathered on the Village Green in Bar Harbor to protest the planned closure of Mount Desert Island Hospital’s obstetrics department. The nurses were joined by community members, who said Thursday’s gathering builds on growing opposition to closure of the area’s only OB Department. They say the nearest small OB department will now be at least a half hour away. A March 30th community meeting drew a standing-room-only crowd, and more than 1100 people signed a public petition demanding cancellation of the closure, planned for July 1st.
Economy
Paid Parking Returns in Bar Harbor Next Week
(Bar Harbor) Less than a week from now, visitors to Bar Harbor will once again have to pay to park. Parking kiosks are already springing up along the town’s streets like dandelions. Paid parking is in effect in the tourist town from May 15th – that’s next Thursday – through October 30th and is enforced from 8 am to 9 pm six days a week, noon to 9 on Sundays. The Mount Desert Islander reports there’s no cost increase this season – drivers will pay $2 an hour for outer area parking, $4 an hour for downtown spots, with a four hour maximum time limit. The town launched the seasonal parking fee program in 2020. Sources say monies from the program netted the town about $4M in revenue in 2024.
Ellsworth Chamber Hosts Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony
(Ellsworth) A huge congratulations to Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director PJ Keenan, Operations Director Caitlyn Burpee, and the rest of the amazing staff on last night’s outstanding Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony. Honorees included Hancock County Technical Center, winning the Director’s Award. The President’s Award went to Micki Sumpter. Lifelong Educator Carl Lusby was honored as Citizen of the Year, and the Top Drawer Award went to Witham Family Hotels. A big thanks to all the sponsors and others who contributed to the magical evening.
Health
Ultraprocessed Foods Making Us Sick?
(CNN) Time to get back to those fresh fruits and vegetables? A new study contends eating about a dozen servings of those ultra-processed food each day could lead to early signs of Parkinson’s disease. The study did not show a link between such food consumption and an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s, but did point to a correlation between them and early signs and symptoms of the condition. CNN reports a single serving in the study was 8 ounces of diet or sugar-sweetened soda, a single hot dog, one slice of packaged cake, a mere tablespoon of ketchup or an ounce of potato chips – about 2/3 of a typical small bag. The study found that for each 10% increase in total calories from ultra-processed foods, the risk of dying prematurely rose by nearly 3%.
Infrastructure
Bar Harbor Shore Path to Reopen Next Month
(Bar Harbor) Great news for those who have missed walking along Bar Harbor’s iconic Shore Path. The scenic stroll was decimated by storms in January 2024. The Mount Desert Islander reports repairs are almost complete, with the path slated to reopen next month. Dick Cough, President of the Village Improvement Association, says extensive work has been done on the path. Nearly a thousand feet of seawall was rebuilt and reinforced with concrete. The entire path was then resurfaced with stone dust. Because the path crosses land owned by 14 private property owners, funds for repairs had to be privately raised. The VIA contributed $300K, with donations from businesses and individuals contributing a nearly equal amount.
Human Interest/Entertainment
Penobscot Marine Museum Opens with New Exhibit
Searsport) The Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport will feature a new exhibit this year. Sardineland highlights the significance of the sardine industry and how it helped the local culture and economy. The industry reached its peak in the early 1950s, employing thousands and boasting more than 50 canneries, particularly adding to the economy and workforce of Lubec and Eastport. The last sardine cannery in the U.S., Stinson Seafood in Prospect Harbor, closed its doors in 2010. The Searsport museum will hold an opening reception from 4 to 6 p.m. on May 22nd, with Sardineland and other exhibits opening on the 23rd.
Bog Butter Discovery
(Ireland) We wrap up the week with a story about a rather “slick” find. Irish farmer Micheal Boyle was digging a drain in a bog on his property when he notices something unusual in the peat. It turned out to be a 50 pound chunk of butter. Scientists say as early as the Iron Age, ancient populations in Ireland used peat bogs, which were cold and low in oxygen, to preserve butter and animal fat. Experts confirmed Boyle’s find and even discovered a small piece of wood within the slab, suggesting it was once stored in a box that had since decomposed. One brave (insert question mark here) archaeologist actually tasted the centuries-old find and noted it was similar to plain old salted butter, even after all these years. The oldest such find was discovered in a bog in 2013 and was determined to be 5,000 years old. We’ll “toast” to that!
Bill Gates to Give Away $200B by 2045
(Reuters) Bill Gates has a new plan. The tech mogul and philanthropist pledged Thursday to give away almost his entire personal fortune in the next two decades, saying the world’s poorest would receive some $200B via his Foundation at a time when governments worldwide are slashing international aid. Gates blasted Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, saying Musk’s cuts and the dismantling of USAID, which amounted to a mere 1.2% of the federal budget, would result in the deaths of thousands of the world’s poorest children from such easily eradicated or controlled diseases as malaria, measles, and AIDS. In light of such potential tragedy, Gates said he plans to speed up divestiture of his fortune and close the Gates Foundation on December 31st, 2045.
New Pope is First American Chosen
(Undated) There’s a new Pope for the Catholic Church this morning. He’s Robert Francis Prevost, the first American chosen. Pope Leo XIV, as he’ll be known, was born in the Chicago area and served as a missionary in Peru. It’s believed he’ll carry on the compassionate views, such as caring for the poor and outcast, of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who died last month at the age of 88.