Crime/Public Safety

ICE Protests

(Ellsworth)  Across the country and across Maine Saturday, protestors lined the streets to display their anger, however peacefully, against what they called the cold-blooded killing of an American citizen by a member of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, in Minneapolis on Wednesday.  The Trump Administration was quick to defend the actions of the ICE agent, but shooter Jonathan Ross’s body camera footage shows 37 yo Renee Good trying to drive away as Ross and other heavily armed and masked agents surround her vehicle and tug at her door before firing three shots, killing the mother of three. Ross then walks away unharmed.  In Ellsworth, a crowd of about a hundred lined High Street near Shaw’s; hundreds more turned out in Bangor, Portland, Augusta, Bath, Blue Hill and other cities and towns as concerns grow about the tactics and credibility of ICE.  

Rockland Assistant Fire Chief Retires

(Rockland)  Rockland Assistant Fire Chief Adam Miceli was celebrated Saturday for thirty years at Rockland Fire and EMS.  Miceli was also just four months shy of forty years in the fire service.  The Pen Bay Pilot reports attendees reflected on the commitment the dedicated first responder brought to the job, calling him the “epitome of passion for the service”.  Miceli left the service with some good advice, telling the enthusiastic crowd, “Learn from everyone, regardless of rank.”  

Local Politics

Stonington Budget

(Stonington)  The Stonington Select Board has agreed to send voters a 2026 budget plan that includes more than $125K in additional spending over last year – but it didn’t go down easy, even with the board.  Town Manager Kathleen Billings told the Penobscot Bay Press, “We’ve looked at this eight ways to Sunday.”  The 5.7% increase was mostly driven by price hikes from the town’s health insurer – up $20K; along with new Versant electricity rates, legal fees, and new taxes that fund the state’s family medical leave provisions, and inflation – all things officials say are out of the town’s hands when it comes to budgeting.  

Lawmakers Urge Mills to Abandon ModivCare

(Augusta)  More than a hundred lawmakers are calling on Governor Janet Mills to rebid an agreement with a non-emergency medical transportation company.  Currently, the 10-year, $750M contract is with ModivCare, a Colorado based company that outbid Penquis and Waldo CAP but that has gone into bankruptcy since the agreement was signed in 2023.  The company has emerged from bankruptcy.  However, concerns about reliability for those who depend on their services – veterans, people with cancer, those needing dialysis and more – linger.  Some lawmakers say they are uneasy about calling for a rebid on the contract. 

Environment

Earthquake

(Ellsworth)  The US Geological Survey registered a mild earthquake near Ellsworth shortly after midnight Sunday.  The epicenter was about 5 kilometers – or 3 miles – north, northwest of Ellsworth and registered 1.8 on the Richter scale.  Mild earthquakes aren’t uncommon here in Maine.  A magnitude 1.3 quake struck near Centerville on Wednesday, and quakes felt in the last six months include ones in areas near Dover-Foxcroft, Grand Lake Stream, Monhegan and North Windham, all 2.0 or under.  While geologists say there are hundreds of ancient fault lines in Maine’s bedrock, none are considered “active”; instead, quakes in Maine are classified as “intraplate” and are caused by regional stress fields.  The strongest recent quake was a 3.8 magnitude quake southeast of York in January 2025.  

Education

EEMS Presents Keeping Kids Safe Online

(Ellsworth)  If you have kids and they’re online, keeping them safe is likely a constant concern.  Ellsworth Elementary Middle School is hosting a Parent Technology Night this Wednesday to help you navigate the digital age.  Topics include guiding your kids through the era of Artificial Intelligence, recognizing misinformation and deep fakes, helping kids think critically online, protecting family privacy and spotting scams. They ask that you sign up through EEMS so they can plan for materials.  The workshop will be held at the school library from 4:30 to 6 January 14th and is open to all families.  

Human Interest

Where in the World Winner

(Beals)  Congratulations to our latest “Where in the World … “ winner, Amanda Smith of Beals!  Like many other entrants, she correctly guessed we were in Searsport.  We know she’ll enjoy spending that $25 gift certificate to The Rock and Art Shop!  This week, we’re back on the road with a $25 gift card to Brick House Soups in Ellsworth.  Check our social media pages and add your guess to the many already coming in, and thanks so much to everyone who plays!  We hope you’re having as much fun as WE are being on the road and being in touch with our wonderful followers!  

Ellsworth Man Hopes to Restore Community

(Ellsworth)  An Ellsworth man who’s lived and worked in the area for years says building real connections as an adult feels harder than it should.  Jacob Gage posted on social media he sees it in quiet restaurants on Saturday nights where people order to go out, rather than gathering IN together.  So Gage is offering something he calls “Kin”, beginning with Dinner Rounds – small group dinners at local restaurants.  Participants join a round, not a one-off event.  He says from there, Kin will make it easier to organize volunteer opportunities, attend events with a small group, support local causes and more.  From the comments on his post, it seems Gage has struck a nerve … and a real need.  Check him out on FB to learn more. 

Pitch in with Heart of Ellsworth

(Ellsworth)  Make 2026 the year you pitch in and get involved with Heart of Ellsworth!  The group just posted their 2026 “opportunity” calendar you might say, with volunteer cleanup days set for May 16th, July 18th, and November 7th.  Those days are a LOT of fun and offer a LOT of pride in our community.  Want to learn more?  Attend their annual meeting on February 10th … and be sure to follow them on FB and sign up for their monthly newsletter so you don’t miss a single opportunity!

AIO Plans for Fill the Strand

(Rockland)  AIO is planning for their annual Fill the Strand event on January 19th.  The Rockland based Area Interfaith Outreach challenges the community to fill every seat in the historic Strand Theatre with bags of food and funds for their programs – food assistance, home delivery, weekend meals, diaper program, energy assistance for those in need in Knox County.  In the five Fill the Strand events so far, the nonprofit has raised more than $165K, with this year’s goal set at $40K.  New this year, the AIO van and volunteers have been out in Thomaston, Rockland, and Camden on weekends, handing out bags for shoppers to fill ahead of the event.  Learn more and support them at a i o food pantry dot org.  

Bucksport Bay Festival Seeks Nonprofits

(Bucksport)  This year’s Bucksport Bay Festival won’t be put on by town officials.  Instead, the River Observer reports the town’s community and economic development committee is accepting proposals from non-profit groups to assume organizational responsibility.  The festival has grown in the three years since the town took it over, attracting between three and five thousand people each July.  Proposals are being accepted through mid-January, with the committee set to make a recommendation at its February 8th meeting.  

National News

Senate Votes to Display January 6th Plaque

(Washington, DC)  House Republicans refused to display a plaque honoring those who defended the capitol against the January 6th, 2021 riot, including multiple police departments, the FBI, and then-Departments of Defense and Homeland Security.  But the Senate on Thursday approved a measure to install the plaque, which will remain in the Senate until a permanent location is identified on the west front of the Capitol. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson had argued the project was “not implementable”, while the Justice Department maintained the plaque does not comply with the law because it lists Departments which responded, and not the individual officers.  The resolution does not need to be approved by the House.  

Republicans Vote to Restore ACA Subsidies

(Washington, DC)  Seventeen Republicans on Thursday joined Democrats in passing legislation that would revive enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies for three years.  The 230-196 vote followed Wednesday’s procedural vote, where nine Republicans joined Democrats in moving the proposal forward.  The lone South Florida Republican to join Democrats, Maria Elvira Salazar wrote on X, “I know firsthand how many families in my district depend on this assistance … this isn’t partisan, it’s human.”  While sources say the measure is destined to die in the Senate, it’s hoped the move by House Republicans could lay the groundwork for a bipartisan agreement.  Congressional leaders continue to hear from constituents angry over skyrocketing healthcare costs since the tax credits expired on January 1st.  

Thousands Take to Streets to Protest Killing of Renee Good

(Minneapolis)   Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Austin … in cities and towns nationwide, thousands turned out Saturday to protest the killing of an American citizen by masked, heavily armed ICE agents. The Washington Post reports Minneapolis, where thousands protested, largely peacefully, is grappling with how to respond after the FBI revoked the city’s access to the case file, scene evidence, and witness interviews in the killing of 37 yo poet, Renee Good.  Moments before the shooting, Good is seen on shooter Jonathan Ross’s bodycam video calmly telling him, “I’m not angry with you, dude.”  She then attempts to drive away, Ross shouting and pulling at her door, then firing three shots, leaving Good to bleed out as he calmly walks away, muttering an expletive about the mother of three.  It’s unclear what next steps will be in the case, but one observer said, “They know it’s murder, and they’re trying to cover it up,” adding, “There’s strength in numbers.  There’s more of us than them”.  

Smithsonian Removes Trump Impeachment Text

(Washington, DC)  The National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian in DC has removed a swath of text that mentioned President Donald Trump’s two impeachments and the January 6, 2021 insurrection as it swapped out a prominent photo of him this week.  The new photo replaces one accompanied by a caption recounting Trump’s first term and his reelection, that read in part, “Impeached twice on charges of abuse of power and incitement of insurrection after supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021..”  Trump was acquitted in both trials by the Senate.

Grateful Dead Founder, Guitarist Dies

(WaPo)  Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir has died.  Weir was also a vocalist and founding member of the group who co-wrote some of its best known songs, including “Sugar Magnolia” and “Playing in the Band”.  Weir was diagnosed with cancer in July.  He was 78.

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