Crime/Public Safety

Union Woman Charged in Knox County Stabbing

(Union)  A 27 yo Union woman remains in the Knox County Jail following a December 7th stabbing.  The Pen Bay Pilot reports authorities responded to an incident around 4 a.m. that morning and found a man sitting in a locked truck with a laceration to his right arm.  The victim told police the woman,  Roxane Beaucage, used a large kitchen knife to assault him.  Beaucage was arrested and charged with robbery, domestic violence aggravated assault, and falsifying physical evidence.  She made an initial court appearance December 8th and is scheduled to be back in court on February 12th.  

Decorations On Cars Prohibited by Law

(Undated)  Bah-humbug!  If you decked out your vehicle for one of the local Christmas parades, make sure you remove those festive lights before hitting the highway.  NewsCenter Maine reports operating a vehicle on a public way with most types of decorative lights, such as blinking or multicolored string lights, is prohibited in Maine. Such lighting is generally classified as illegal “auxiliary lighting” when used on public roads.  Underglow lighting, such as neon tubes under the chassis, is permitted only for shows or exhibitions.  Authorities say such lighting could be a safety hazard and is, at the least, distracting.  

Local Politics

Bar Harbor Debates Extending Moratorium on New Lodging

(Bar Harbor)  The Town of Bar Harbor is debating whether to extend a moratorium on development of new lodging.  The issue has been a point of contention for years, with added income for vacation rental owners up against displacement of year-round residents, and, some say, erosion of neighborhood character. According to the Mount Desert Islander, the number of guest rooms in the town grew from about 2700 to 2,991 this year.  The most recent moratorium extension is set to expire on January 27th.  Whether or not to continue extending the moratorium is up to the Town Council and would ultimately come up for a vote at a town meeting.  

Maine Fishermen Push for Fair Rules in “Gray Zone”

(Maine)  Maine fishermen are pushing U.S. trade officials for what they say are fair rules governing fishing practices in international waters between Maine and Canada.  MaineBiz reports the 277-square-mile area known as the Gray Zone is fished by both countries and is one of America’s only contested maritime borders.  Swan’s Island fisherman Jason Joyce testified before the International Trade Commission in Washington, DC that US fishermen have sacrificed more than most – rebuilding stocks, using innovative  gear, protecting habitat and carrying the weight of conservation on their backs because of rules that don’t necessarily apply to fishermen from Canada.

Local Towns Pitch in to Help Fix Washington County Crisis

(Machias)  Washington County officials have called on residents to “put away the pitchforks” and support the County – in essence, supporting themselves –  in digging out from a crisis created long before current Commissioners and the current Washington County Manager took office.  Almost all towns have a surplus in their budgets. County Commissioners have asked the towns to pay their county taxes early from such surplus funds, in order to meet the obligation of the 2025 TAN, which must be paid by February in order to get a Tax Anticipation Note for the upcoming year.  Because the County operates on a fiscal year, while many towns operate on calendar years, TANs are necessary in order to fund costs in the interim.  So far, towns voting unanimously to support the County’s efforts include Addison, Cherryfield, Columbia, Columbia Falls, Eastport, Harrington, Jonesboro, Jonesport, and Roque Bluffs.  Steuben will consider the measure at a public hearing and special town meeting on Saturday.  The Milbridge Select Board will consider it at a meeting on December 16th.  

Economy

Former Junkyard Site Could Become Affordable Housing Location

(Rockland)  An affordable housing project in Rockland is planned at the site of a former junkyard. The Pen Bay Pilot reports remediation at the site has begun, paving the way for six affordable houses in the near future.  Contaminated soil is being removed and areas excavated to ensure foundations can be placed … with water and sewer lines being installed, as well.  The goal remains on target to finish remediation by December 19th, after which city officials hope to transfer ownership of the property to developers to complete the housing construction. 

New Affordable Housing on Vinalhaven

(Vinalhaven)  Folks in Vinalhaven will soon have more year-round, affordable and sustainable housing units. WABI reports the Vinalhaven Housing Initiative was formed in 2023 with a goal of establishing such housing for residents of the island 15 miles off the coast of Maine.  Finishing touches are being put on four units.  The project is made possible with funding from supporters and a grant from MaineHousing.  

Subway Locations Closed

(Maine)  At least seven Subway locations in Maine were forced to close Wednesday, reportedly after their business registration certifications were revoked.  Joshua Rogers, Assistant Manager of the Subway in Wiscasset, told WGME the franchises, owned by MTF Subs in Maine, were told to turn the lights off and close the doors. Rogers said the person giving the order was with State Revenue, who told him they couldn’t provide details as to why certifications were revoked.  Downeast Digest reached out to the MTF franchise in Machias, where phones went unanswered. Lights were out and a sign on the door simply said the location was closed.  We also tried calling the Blue Hill and Bucksport locations and got messages saying those numbers were disconnected. One employee told WGME they’d seen signs of trouble for weeks, with checks bouncing, direct deposits delayed and employees not being paid.  A spokesperson for the company said MTF was working on the issue and hoped the closures were temporary.

Helen’s Machias Celebrates 75 Years

(Machias)  Helen’s Restaurant of Machias is turning 75 years old – and they invite you to help them celebrate with gifts and specials all next week.  Giveaways include free commemorative mugs, tote bags, tshirts and hats, with a special drawing on Friday for a lucky winner of 75 gallons of heating oil.  The week will wrap up Saturday with a drawing of one $75 gift card per business hour from their jar of receipts for the week – so get in there and enter your guest receipt each day.  Restrictions apply – visit Helen’s of Machias’s FB page for details.

Education

RSU 24 Remains Steadfast on Transgender Policy

(Sullivan)  A Sullivan area school district is standing firm on its policies banning transgender athletes in girls’ sports.  At Tuesday night’s school board meeting, members voted to stand behind RSU 24’s policy and approved the hiring of an Augusta law firm.  RSU 24 is one of six districts named in a lawsuit filed by the Maine Human Rights Commission, which alleges such bans are in violation of the law. 

Environment

MDIFW Looking for Info on Cottontails

(Augusta)  New England Cottontails are an endangered species in Maine, and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife says winter is the best time to spot them.  That’s because they stay brown year round, while hares are white in winter, making the endangered ones easy to spot.  If you see a cottontail, they ask that you hop on over to m e fish wildlife dot com, forward slash rabbits to submit the date, time, location of your sighting, a description of their habitat and a photo if you were lucky enough to get one.  No need to report snowshoe hares, as wildlife biologists say they’re a common game species in Maine.

Infrastructure

Ellsworth Road Work

(Ellsworth)  Plan ahead if you drive in the Ellsworth area.  The City tells Downeast Digest there will be road work coming up Monday and Tuesday – possibly into Wednesday – on the Bucksport Road and on Bridge Hill.  While public works crews are operating, you may see shifted lanes, and they ask that traffic move carefully around crews, giving them plenty of space.  The work on Bucksport Road will be in the area of McMullen Way;  and near Pleasant Street on Bridge Hill – that’s December 15, 16, and possibly 17th.

Human Interest

Mr. Grinch Returns to Blue Hill Public Library

(Blue Hill)  That mean old Mr. Grinch will be at the Blue Hill Public Library this evening!  The Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers will perform their puppet show, “The Grinch” at 6 p.m.  Mr. Grinch could learn a thing or two from the Friends of the Library who have generously underwritten the show, so it’s free to all, with no reservations necessary.  Doors open at 5:45 p.m.

Bangor a “Hallmark-like” City

(Bangor)  Move over, Stephen King’s horror genre, Bangor has been listed as one of the country’s top ten “Most Hallmark-like Cities”, coming in at number 6, ahead of Burlington, Vermont (No. 7) and Littleton,  Colorado (No. 9).  WABI reports a study by The Action Network ranked Bangor as a likely setting for a Hallmark movie to happen in real life, citing its classic New England charm and a population “big enough for a lively Main Street, but small enough to feel close-knit.”  Downeast Digest did some digging and found at least eight Hallmark movies have actually been set in Maine, if not actually filmed here, including 2013’s “The Wishing Tree” and 2020’s “Cranberry Christmas”.  The 2024 movie “43 Degrees North” was actually filmed in various Maine locations, including Cape Elizabeth and Damariscotta.

Highest Christmas Tree in New England

(Mt. Washington)  It’s not the tallest tree in New England, but the staff at the Mount Washington Observatory in New Hampshire are keeping alive the tradition of displaying the highest Christmas tree in New England by setting up a small tree in the Mount Washington State Park rotunda area.  We’ve shared a picture on our social media pages.

National News

Time Names 2025 Person of the Year

(Undated) Time Magazine has named its 2025 Person of the Year, the architects of Artificial Intelligence, or AI. OpenAI’s ChatGPT at launch was the fastest-growing consumer app of all time and has now surpassed 800 million weekly users.  A key figure is Jensen Huang, CEO of Nividia, the world’s most valuable company and the company that holds a near-monopoly on the advanced chips powering the AI boom.  And while AI is transforming the planet in positive ways, researchers have found it can also scheme, deceive, and blackmail, leaving us all with mixed emotions about a technological future that seems unstoppable and that has turned what was once science fiction into everyday reality.

Senate Rejects Extension of Affordable Care Act Tax Credits

(Washington, DC)  Look for a steep increase in healthcare costs next year.  The Senate yesterday rejected legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, virtually guaranteeing a steep rise in premiums for millions of Americans.  The Republican-controlled Senate rejected a Democratic bill that would have extended subsidies for three years and a Republican alternative that would have created new health savings accounts.  Republicans argue the plans are too expensive and need to be overhauled. The Affordable Care Act was President Barack Obama’s signature law passed along party lines in 2010 to expand access to insurance coverage.

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Flies From Bangor to Oslo for Nobel Prize

(Bangor)  Venezuelan Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado, who has been in hiding, arrived in Oslo Thursday, where her daughter received the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf.  Machado credited President Trump with weakening the current regime and told reporters she would return to Venezuela when security conditions were right.  According to the Associated Press, the plane on which Machado arrived flew to Oslo from Bangor. 

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