Crime/Public Safety

FAA Posts “Emergency Notification” Following Government Shutdown

(Forbes)  The FAA on Thursday posted an “Emergency” notification on its website following the government shutdown.  Forbes reports the agency furloughed 11,000 workers, about 25% of its workforce, due to the freeze in funding.  The message in brief read, “Portions of the Department of Transportation are currently in shutdown/furlough status due to a lapse in appropriations.”  Air traffic controllers and TSA agents were expected to remain on the job.

Attack at British Synagogue Called “Terrorism”

(Manchester, UK)  An attack at a synagogue in Manchester, England, has left three dead, including a suspected assailant.  The New York Times reports the attack occurred Wednesday on Yom Kippur – the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.  British authorities arrested two other people and have declared it an act of terrorism.  The attack included ramming by a vehicle and stabbings, leaving three other people injured and listed in serious condition Thursday afternoon.

Drought Concerns Continue

(Maine)  The state of Maine remains drier than normal, in spite of last Thursday’s drenching rain.  The State Fire Marshal’s Office reminds folks that sky lanterns, often used for weddings and memorials, are illegal in Maine and are especially dangerous under drought conditions.  The lanterns are made from thin paper stretched on a frame, with a candle or other fuel source used to lift the lantern into the air, blowing wherever the wind takes them.  The FMO says they can cause fires if they land on something combustible, like dry vegetation.  Contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office with any questions.

Economy

Jonesport Looks to Revive Retail Building

(Jonesport)  The town of Jonesport is exploring options for restoring and repurposing a 125-year-old building at 46 Main Street that once served as a retail establishment.  MaineBiz reports the one-time cornerstone of local commerce originally served as a marine supply store.  The building sits near the waterfront in Jonesport, a commercial fishing hub at the tip of a peninsula in Washington County.  The town officially took ownership of the property in March.  Stabilization and repairs are underway, thanks in part to a $25K Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority grant, being used to help fix the roof and stabilize both the structure’s inner and exterior ahead of winter.   The town hopes to transform the building into a functional space that will benefit residents and visitors, an option to be considered and voted on at next year’s annual town meeting.

Cruise Ship Season Still in Full Swing

(Eastport)  Maine’s cruise ship season is seeing smooth sailing, with thousands of passengers expected to visit Eastport, Rockland, Bar Harbor and Portland between now and early November.  MaineBiz reports Portland alone is set to welcome around 16K cruise ship passengers.  But the season is said to be bringing mixed reviews – with some locals bracing for the crowds with mixed reactions.  Many business owners say cruise ship visitors don’t spend much while in port; while others – more than 50% – say the visitors still benefit the local economy.  The Eastport Port Authority, in a nod to THEIR support of cruise ships, recently updated their FB profile picture to a graphic that touts Eastport as “The Most Welcoming Port City in the World”.  

MDOL Issues Guidance for Federal Employees During Shutdown

(Augusta)  Following Tuesday’s Senate impasse,, the federal government shut down for the first time in seven years.  The shutdown could impact the more than 10K federal employees who work in Maine, not including postal workers.  NewsCenter Maine reports the Maine Department of Labor has released new guidance for such employees.  While it’s unclear how many will qualify for unemployment benefits during the shutdown, Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said Wednesday the Department was there for support.  Initial claims must be started with a phone call to the Department, with claims typically taking between 10 and 14 days to process.  Initial monetary determinations will show zero dollars eligibility, but Fortman clarified that will be updated once wage information is received.  

Treworgy to Offer Night Maze

(Levant)  It’s no nightMARE, it’s a nightMAZE coming to Treworgy Orchards in Levant.  The Night Maze is an opportunity to attempt to weave your way through the award-winning corn maze at the orchard  after sundown. This year’s labyrinth is based on Robert McCloskey’s book Burt Dow, Deep Water Man.  The Night Maze is family-friendly, so there’s nothing haunted or scary, according to Treworgy.  Bring your own flashlight, and explore the Night Maze October 17th, 18th, 24th or 25th, using the Pember Road entrance.  Park in the lower lot and be prepared to show a confirmation email verifying your ticket purchase.  The cafe will be open selling hot cider, hot chocolate and donuts.

Education

October at the Versant Power Planetarium

(Orono)  It’s all about space and spookiness this month at the Versant Power Planetarium.  Director Shawn Laatsch tells us what’s going on tonight and every Friday night in October.  ((( … and also dark energy.  :20))) Tickets at astro dot u maine dot e d u or in person at the planetarium on the University of Maine campus in Orono!

(Orono)  Costumes, comets, and cosmic connections … for the kids, it’s all about Halloween’s origins this month at the Versant Power Planetarium.  Director Shawn Laatsch has more on October’s children’s programming. (((…sort of cosmic connections if you will.”  :17)))  Spooky fun at the Versant Power Astronomy Center all month long – tickets at the door or at astro dot u maine dot e d u.

(Orono)  Who says Halloween fun is just for kids?  This month’s music shows at the Versant Power Planetarium features more fun than a cemetery at midnight.  Actually, Director Shawn Laatsch says, quite a BIT more fun!  (((…set to some really stunning spooky visuals! :21)))  Music to OUR ears … tickets at the door or at astro dot u maine dot e d u.  

Infrastructure

LifeFlight of Maine Opens Permanent Helipad in Bar Harbor

(Bar Harbor)  Lifeflight of Maine this week is opening a new, permanent helipad in Bar Harbor.  MaineBiz reports the helipad, located at the intersection of Park and Main, is expected to aid in swift access to care for critically ill and injured patients in Bar Harbor and the surrounding areas by allowing LifeFlight to land closer to Mount Desert Island hospital.  In Bar Harbor, LifeFlight helicopters had previously landed on a baseball field or the ferry terminal.  The new helipad location is expected to reduce time patients spend in transit. The project cost about $250K and was largely funded by a private foundation with ties to the community and MDI Hospital.  Another Bar Harbor donor made a contribution to the town to support a maintenance fund for the helipad.  The public is invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony this morning at 11 a.m. at 349 Main Street.

Four Make List of Maine Preservation’s “Most Endangered Historic Places” List

(Skowhegan)  Four historic places in Maine have made this year’s Maine Preservation list of “most endangered”.  The Yarmouth-based nonprofit calls attention to sites that face a dire future unless intervention is made.  The list also highlights and amplifies local efforts to preserve such significant places.  MaineBiz reports this year’s list includes the Governor Abner Coburn House, a previous Governor’s home in Skowhegan … the Gannett House in Augusta, built in 1911 for the newspaper magnate and his wife, and now home to the First Amendment Museum … the Leach-Overlock House in East Vassalboro  … and the North Franklin Agricultural Building, the last remaining structure from once-bustling fairgrounds in the Franklin County town of Phillips.

National News Headlines 

Pentagon Plans Widespread Random Polygraphs

(Washington, DC)  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is ramping up the war on those suspected of leaking information.  The Washington Post reports thousands of uniformed and civilian Pentagon officials could be required to sign nondisclosure agreements and take lie detector tests under strict new rules that include such requirements even for top officials.  An estimated 5K personnel – military service members, civilian employees, and contract workers within the office of the defense secretary and Joint Staff are expected to be affected.  The efforts are part of a wider strategy by the Trump administration and the Pentagon to root out officials deemed insufficiently loyal or those who supply information to reporters.

US Supreme Court Allows Cook to Remain on Fed Board

(Washington, DC)  Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook will remain on her job … for now.  The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday she could keep her position until at least January when the court will take up the high-stakes case over President Trump’s attempt to remove her from the Central Bank.  The Washington Post reports the high court’s decision to hear the case sets up a showdown over the independence of the Central Bank, which sets interest rates and is tasked with keeping inflation in check.  The case could reportedly have major ramifications for businesses and consumers.

Dr. Jane Goodall Dies

(Undated)  Dr. Jane Goodall passed away Wednesday, but her words live on.  Goodall, the famous chimpanzee researcher, is best known for her groundbreaking work studying chimps in Tanzania.  Goodall, a United Nations Messenger of Peace, was in California when she died of natural causes, according to the Jane Goodall Institute.  Goodall was 91.  Some of her many words of wisdom – “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you.  What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”  She encouraged all of us to think and act locally in order to change the world globally.

Fat Bear Week

(Alaska)  Alaska’s Fat Bear Week wrapped up with this year’s crown going to 32 Chunk, a more than 1200 pound brown bear who garnered more than 96K votes compared to the runner up with just under 64K.  Chunk was something of an underdog coming into the contest, having arrived to feed on salmon with a broken jaw – bears in Katmai National Park and Preserve don’t receive medical care, so Chunk showed amazing resilience in asserting his dominance.  The annual competition honors feeding season at the park. Viewers tune in to a livestream of brown bears catching fish and chowing down at Brooks Falls, a salmon run in the park. They  then vote on which contestant is the biggest and chunkiest in a bracket format.