Crime/Public Safety

Surry Acquires New Fire Engine

(Surry)  Merry Christmas to the Surry Volunteer Fire Department, whose new engine just arrived, fresh from manufacturing and testing.  The Department says acquiring the vehicle was a labor of love over the past three years, involving past and present Selectboards, citizens, and others.  They say there’s a good deal of work to be done to prepare the engine for service, but that they’ll be hard at work the next few weeks prepping for hoses, tools, and other equipment, as well as training drivers and pump operators to safely and efficiently use the new truck.

Local Politics

Drug Company Settlements

(Augusta)  Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey and his office have secured more than $260M in settlements with major drug companies accused of “supercharging” the opioid epidemic.  The Maine Monitor reports the money is intended for programs to address harms caused by a deadly drug epidemic …  prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.  Maine’s share is split between local governments and school districts, the Maine Recovery Council, certain towns and counties, and the AG’s office.  Data reportedly shows the AG’s office has spent ten of its seventeen-point-two million received so far, with more than half going to the Department of Health and Human Services.  

Ghost Gun Legislation

(Augusta)  Legislation regarding regulations on ghost guns will become law in Maine – without Governor Janet Mills’s signature.  The Bangor Daily News reports LD 1126 will go into effect a year from January.  The new rule will require serial numbers on homemade ghost guns and will prohibit firearms that are untraceable. Fifteen other states, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island, have similar bans.

Economy

Oil Prices Continue to Fall

(Undated)  Gas Buddy has some good stats for those traveling this week. The national average price for a gallon of gas has declined for the fourth straight week, amid rising oil production across the US, Canada, and OPEC countries.  The median price per gallon stands at $2.69.  Gas Buddy found prices as low as $2.40 a gallon at the WalMart in Auburn Monday.  Average regular gas prices across the country vary widely, with Oklahoma averaging a low of $2.24 a gallon all the way to Hawaii, where a regular gallon of gas averages $4.43.  

Brooklin Library Expansion

(Brooklin)  Ellsworth, Bar Harbor, Brooklin – several area libraries are in the process of expanding and/or updating their facilities.  The Penobscot Bay Press reports that, like the Ellsworth Public Library, Friend Memorial Library in Brooklin has chosen a local carpenter to oversee their project.  Chris Pickering and the team at Blue Ledge Carpentry will oversee the building of an expansion wing that will include the new Maritime Research Center.  Pickering’s company recently finished renovation of the East Blue Hill Library.  Pickering, whose company got its start in Brooklin in 2003, has worked with architect Matt Elliott on many properties on the peninsula and beyond, and the two are pairing on this newest project, as well.

Education

GSA Gets Second Restricted Gift

(Blue Hill)  George Stevens Academy has received a second restricted gift of approximately $300K from an anonymous donor. The River Observer reports the monies will assist in establishing comprehensive Career and Technical Education programming, allowing the Blue Hill institution to offer students a path to high-demand careers in the skilled trades.  Students who graduate from carpentry, electrical work, healthcare, and other fields, will be immediately employable in trades that are essential to Maine’s economy and that are critically needed, especially in the state’s many rural communities.  A restricted donation means the funds must be used specifically for such CTE programming.

Environment

Winter Storm Watch

(Maine)  Many Mainers will likely wake up to a blanket of freshly fallen snow Christmas morning.  The National Weather Service predicts a storm will bring significant snow tonight into Wednesday, Christmas Eve;  though coastal areas could see rain mixed in.  Many areas will see between 3 and 5 inches of the white stuff, more in the western mountains.  Temperatures will stay cold enough – in the teens to 30s – for the magic to stick around for the holiday.  

UMaine Machias Project Works to Make Data Organized and Accessible

(Machias)  Coastal communities in Maine have, for years, collected valuable data on soft-shell clams and invasive green crabs.  But the University of Maine says much of the information gathered remains fragmented or hard to access.  Now, a project at UMaine Machias is working to address that issue.  The project is being led by Professor Brian F. Beal and others at the Marine Science Field Station at the Downeast Institute.  The goal is to create a centralized, user-friendly system for clammers, municipal committees, educators, policymakers, and others. It will allow users to compare sites across towns or to utilize data to inform management and conservation decisions, turning years of technical data – dating back to 2020 – into an accessible, practical tool through the Institute’s website.

Human Interest

Banners for Vets

(Stonington)  The Deer Isle-Stonington American Legion will start hanging banners to honor local veterans in the new year.  According to Island Advantages, the banners will be mounted to utility poles and will feature name, rank, service branch, and number of years served, along with pictures of those being honored.  Individual families or community members will pay for the tributes. The organization is looking for volunteers to help with hanging the banners.  The American Legion is known for its generosity, this year donating $20K each to the Deer Isle and Stonington volunteer fire departments for equipment.  

Critterville Caring for Native Maine Wildlife

(Bucksport)  Henry, a rehabilitated porcupine, recently hitched a ride through Ellsworth, then on to a home in the Jonesport area.  An injured bobcat found a place to recover at the Animal Center in Gray for the winter.  A group of raccoons will be wintering in a barn in Bucksport.  Those are some of the rescues carried out through Critterville, a nonprofit originally located in Brooklin, but currently in the process of relocating to a larger property in Bucksport.  Critterville is run by Susan Wotton, who retired from a career as a special ed biology teacher, volunteered at Acadia Wildlife, and then parlayed her expertise into the full time rescue. The River Observer reports Wotten is knowledgeable about all the creatures she encounters, and offers a wealth of advice in case you come across an animal in need.  To contribute to their mission, visit critterville wildlife rehabilitation center dot org.

American Girl Dolls Turn 40

(WaPo)  Like the millennials who loved them, American Girl Dolls are turning 40.  But the Washington Post reports, to look at them, you’d never know it.  They’re forever ten-year-old schoolgirls with hair bows and toothy smiles.  To those who coveted them, the dolls represented loyalty, bravery, and moxie, with names like Samantha, Felicity, Addy, and Kirsten conjuring up stories of Colonial Williamsburg and the Underground Railroad.  At the time, maker Mattel says, baby dolls made girls into mothers, Barbies were fashion icons, but American Girl dolls were their owner’s age, living out their lives in some of the most pivotal moments in history with courage, conviction, and collectible accessories.

Yes, Virginia – Reindeer Are Real Animals

(Undated)  As children, we envision reindeer flying through the air, pulling Santa’s sleigh, filled with gifts to enchant us on Christmas morning.  While they don’t really fly, reindeer are very real animals that roam the Arctic tundra and remote forests of Finland and other northernmost countries.  Reindeer and caribou are actually the same species – with caribou the more common name for them in the wild, while reindeer refers to those who are domesticated.  The word for caribou derives from the Mi’kmaq word for snow shoveler, likely referring to their ability to wade through deep snow.  Surprisingly, their most feared predator is the golden eagle, which hunts for calves in the fall and spring.  Fortunately, reindeer tend to stick together in herds, migrating up to 3,000 miles per year in search of food such as lichen. But they spend up to 40% of their lives in snow – perfect for Santa and his workshop.

Tolkien Trivia

(Ellsworth)  It’s almost time to step into Middle Earth with a birthday celebration honoring J.R.R. Tolkien at the Ellsworth Public Library!  Join in the world of hobbits, elves, and adventurous quests as you enjoy lighthearted trivia suited for all ages – no deep lore required.  The January 3rd event features fun challenges, themed snacks, and plenty of opportunities to share your favorite characters and stories.  Costumes are welcomed and encouraged, but not required.  There are only 15 spots available for this Noon to 1 p.m. event, so register soon at ellsworth dot lib cal dot com.

National News

Weiss Abruptly Pulls Expose on Trump Deportations

(CBS)  CBS News has abruptly pulled an investigative segment on the Trump administration’s deportation of Venezuelan migrants, set to air on “60 minutes”.  The piece focused on the prisoners being sent to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison.  The Washington Post reports the decision came directly from the network’s conservative editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, who defended her decision, saying the details of horrific abuse had been reported on by others two months earlier.  The segment’s production team had requested comment from the White House, the State Department, and the Department of Homeland Security, but the administration declined to grant the journalists an interview.  Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi called the administration’s refusal “a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story.”   

Trump Administration Begins Recalling Career Diplomats

(AP)  The Trump Administration this week began recalling nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassadorships and other senior embassy posts, as it moves to reshape the U.S. diplomatic posture abroad with personnel deemed fully supportive of the President’s “America First” priorities.  State Department officials confirmed the removals to the Associated Press, stating the positions were “a personal representation of the president.”  The diplomats, all of whom were installed under the Biden Administration, were informed their tenures would end in January.  

© 2025 Downeast Digest.  All rights reserved.

Critterville Bucksport