Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Hermon Man Arrested in Computer Crimes Case
(Hermon) The Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit has arrested a Hermon man in connection with an ongoing investigation. Public Safety Information Officer Shannon Moss released the information yesterday, saying 42 yo Aaron Pinette was taken into custody at his residence on May 23rd and was taken to the Penobscot County Jail. Pinette is charged with Possession of Sexually Explicit Materials. Moss tells Star 97.7 the case remains an active investigation, with no further details available at this time.
Penobscot County Could Release Inmates Who Lack Representation
(Penobscot County) Penobscot County could be the first to begin releasing inmates who do not have legal representation. The Bangor Daily News reports habeas corpus hearings are scheduled June 24th to determine whether people accused of crimes are being detained unlawfully without a lawyer. As of last week, ten people were being held in the county’s jail without a lawyer. That’s according to a list maintained by the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services. In March, a Kennebec County judge ruled Maine has violated the constitutional rights of indigent defendants, low-income people who are guaranteed a court-appointed lawyer.
Local Politics
Pingree to Hold Roundtable on Health Impacts of Republicans’ Megabill
(Portland) First District Congressperson Chellie Pingree, along with Planned Parenthood Northern New England and others, will host a roundtable this afternoon from 1 to 2 in Portland. Members of the roundtable will discuss with patient advocates the catastrophic impacts they say Republicans’ reconciliation bill would have on Mainers and on all Americans. The bill would defund Planned Parenthood and gut Medicaid, taking away access to healthcare for millions. Persons attending can RSVP and learn more by contacting Pingree’s office.
Resilience Projects Face Another Funding Setback
(Augusta) Only a month after the Trump Administration cancelled a program promising millions of dollars for local Maine climate resilience projects, officials are facing another setback. The Maine Monitor reports the administration is downsizing a multi-billion dollar program states have long used to protect vulnerable homes and infrastructure from floods and other disasters, the Hazard Mitigation and Grant Program. A former FEMA official with decades of emergency management experience says he’s seen room for improvement with the program, but that simply slashing and cutting arbitrarily leaves communities open for disaster from storms and other climate-change related issues.
Bar Harbor Reminders
(Bar Harbor) A couple of reminders for our listeners in Bar Harbor from Executive Director Everal Eaton. The last day to display the Spring Seasonal Flag is May 31st. Town officials say storing your flag by that date helps them comply with Bar Harbor’s land use ordinance. The Fall Flag flies October 13 to November 30th; the Winter Flag December 1 to March 19th. Also, registration is open for this year’s 4th of July Parade. Complete your registration by filling out the form on the town website. And don’t forget the Bar Harbor Town Meeting on Tuesday, June 3rd at 6 p.m. at Conners-Emerson and the Town Election the following week on June 10th.
Economy
Maine Has Highest Rate of Child Food Insecurity in New England
(Maine) One in eight Mainers and one in five children in Maine experience food insecurity. That’s the findings of a 2023 report that shows Maine has the highest rate of child food insecurity in New England. WABI reports Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap Study also showed Maine has the second highest rate of overall food insecurity in New England. Washington, Piscataquis, Aroostook and Somerset counties have the highest food insecurity rates. Good Shepherd and other food banks are using the data to call attention to the urgent need for efforts to end hunger.
Education
Conners-Emerson Ranked Best Middle School in Maine
(Blue Hill) When it comes to middle schools, Downeast educators get an A-plus. Conners-Emerson School in Bar Harbor was recently named the best middle school in the state, followed by Falmouth Middle School at number two and Blue Hill Consolidated School at number three. Penobscot Bay Press reports the ranking by U.S. News looked at 334 public middle schools in the PineTree State. The magazine uses a formula that combines state test scores for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders in reading and math with socioeconomic data of the school to determine the rankings. Educators at all the schools say it’s not just about test scores, but also about making sure students feel safe, challenged, and eager to learn.
URCI, City of Ellsworth Awarded DECD Co-working Grant
(Ellsworth) The Union River Center for Innovation in Ellsworth has been awarded a grant from the Maine Department of Community and Economic Development. A portion of the funds will be used to install Coworks, a cloud-based system that will allow the public to reserve and securely pay for space in real time using an interactive calendar. That process is currently done on paper and relies on multiple back and forth emails. Another portion of the funds will help renovate the facility to provide three additional co-working spaces, which are always in demand. In addition to existing long-term rentals, the Center has rented the equivalent of 400 additional workdays between the months of June and November.
Environment
Mosquitos Are Drawn to Our Smell
(Maine) Nobody does mosquitoes like Maine. Researchers say some of us are magnets for the needle-nosed bloodsuckers, emitting a tantalizing combination of chemicals that all but put out the welcome sign for them to come and dine. The Washington Post reports researchers at Rockefeller University in New York found people with higher levels of certain acids on their skin, specifically (carbo-sillic) carboxylic acids, are 100 times more attractive to the female mosquito breed responsible for spreading diseases like Zika and yellow fever. One researcher says just by breathing, we’re broadcasting our presence to the pests. Scientists have found people seem to become more attractive to mosquitoes when they’re pregnant, after they’ve had a few beers, or when they’ve used certain soaps.
New Protection Saves Migratory Birds in Chicago
(NYT) Last week, we told you about the massive bird migrations going on during late April and all this month, as songbirds, raptors, and others make their way north for the summer. In Chicago, the vast glass windows and doors of the Lakeside Center have long been the city’s most notorious bird killer. The birds, which normally inhabit forests and grasslands, don’t perceive glass as solid and become confused by its reflections, especially during nighttime migrations when they’re attracted to the lights. The NY Times reports that building alone claimed almost a thousand birds on a single day in October 2023. Last summer, volunteers applied an overlay with a pattern of close, opaque dots to the building’s glass panels. Early results are reportedly nothing short of remarkable, with deaths down by about 95% last Fall, compared with the two previous autumns. Monitoring is underway during the first spring migration since the dots, with other buildings expected to adopt the lifesaving measure.
Downeast Institute Hosts Shell-ebration
(Beals) The Downeast Institute says get ready for a shell-raising good time on June 8th! Here’s a rare opportunity to get an inside look at the future of shellfish farming in Downeast Maine – it’s Shell-ebration, a one of a kind, hands on event, packed with tours, demos, gear displays … even a taste-test of Maine’s freshest aquaculture products. They say whether you’re an industry pro, curious community member, or ocean-enthusiast, the day has something for you. Start the day at 10 having coffee with farmers, then learn farming techniques for scallops, clams, mussels, and more during breakout sessions. And connect with leaders from across the aquaculture world. June 8th, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Downeast Institute, 39 Wildflower Lane, Beals. Visit downeast institute dot org to learn more.
Health
Reducing Cancer Risk
(WaPo) About one in five people globally will develop cancer; but oncologist Dr. Mikkael Sekeres writes in the Washington Post, about 40 percent of cancer cases are considered preventable. We all know we should wear sunscreen, get those colonoscopies, and avoid smoking. Other things we can do – Dr. Sekeres says eat fewer red and processed meats and more fruits, veggies, whole grains and beans, cook with plant-based oils like olive and canola, avoid sugar sweetened drinks and ultra processed foods, minimize alcohol intake, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight.
Plant Based Food Truck Opens at FIKA Boutique
(Ellsworth) More and more people adopting plant-based diets for health, ethical, or other reasons. As of this week, there’s a 100% plant-based food truck open in Ellsworth. Fancy Plants Maine is open 11 to 3 this week at FIKA Boutique, 424 High Street, right near the Star 97.7 studios. The food truck is fully electric, and they’re ready to serve weddings, private events, and daily customers with their black bean and beet burger, loaded nachos, tlayuda (think Mexican pizza), gluten free street fruit … even a tropical fruit smoothie and plant-based desserts. Check them out on FB, then check them out for yourself!
Infrastructure
Late Machias Town Manager Leaves Legacy in Grants
(Machias) To say Bill Kitchen was a force as Town Manager of Machias before his untimely death in 2024 is an understatement. Kitchen continues to spread his positive influence in the form of three grants he initiated before his passing. Current Town Manager Sarah Craighead Dedmon reports the smallest will provide Town Office staff with ergonomic chairs. Next in size, a FEMA grant, that will enable the town to outfit 17 Stackpole Road with a generator to keep the Machias Police Department up and running and to enable that facility’s use as a warming or cooling center if needed. Last, but certainly not the least welcome, news from the Maine Department of Transportation that Kitchen’s request for sidewalks on Steele Hill, the steep incline on Court Street, is now in the work plan, likely for 2026.
Ellsworth Hydrant Flushing Extended
(Ellsworth) Hydrant flushing has been extended this week and next in Ellsworth. The Water Department says the semi-annual flushing is designed to clean the lines, which prevents potential problems in the future. Residents in areas being flushed may experience dirty or yellow water, low water flow or low pressure, all of which are temporary and should subside soon after flushing is complete. You’re invited to contact the Ellsworth Water Department with any questions.
Ellsworth Road Work
(Ellsworth) A reminder Ellsworth Public Works closed both southbound lanes of High Street in front of Pizza Hut beginning at 1 a.m. this morning for work on Water Department boxes. Alternating one-way traffic will be in place until that’s completed. Then at 9 p.m. tonight, Public Works will close the inside travel lanes on High Street near the Deane Street intersection to conduct work on water boxes there. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction, with the right-hand lanes remaining open.
Human Interest/Entertainment
Castine Historical Society’s 2025 Exhibit Opens
(Castine) Forty objects, 400 years. The Castine Historical Society’s exhibition “A History of Castine in 40 Objects”, opens June 9th and runs through October 13th. The exhibit is free and features forty unexpected and compelling artifacts that weave together four centuries of Castine history. From “Castine at War” which looks at why major world powers fought over the peninsula, to “Castine at Sea”, which sets you on a journey into the careers of wealthy ship captains along with those who worked on the docks, the exhibit is divided into multiple themes. For specific days and times, visit the Castine Historical Society on FB.