Local Politics

Local Political Updates

(Maine)  Some updates on the political scene here in Maine.  Democrat Graham Platner and his wife are in Norway for affordable in vitro fertilization treatment.  The US Senate candidate said the couple has been trying to conceive for a year without success and that the cost of such treatments in Maine motivated them to seek the procedure abroad.  Maine State Senator Joe Baldacci has launched a bid for a Maine Congressional seat.  He joins a Democratic primary field hoping to take over the seat held by Representative Jared Golden, who has decided not to run for another term.  And State Representative Kathy Javner has died following a battle with cancer.  The Republican from Chester, who represented House District 29, which includes Millinocket, Patten, North Penobscot and other areas, is remembered as a dedicated public servant.  Javner was 58 years old and serving her fourth term in the House.

State Legislators to Hear Public Comment on Tax Increases

(Augusta)  The State Legislative Tax Committee will hear public comment today on a proposed amendment that could help some residents keep properties threatened by double-digit tax increases.  The Bangor Daily News reports people in Maine’s unorganized territory were hit earlier this year with a surge in taxes – some up 60% – on long-held generational lands and camps, due to soaring property reevaluations.  Property owners along Moosehead Lake and Sugarloaf were some of the hardest hit, even though many structures on those coveted properties lack basics such as electricity and running water.

Economy

Bar Harbor Property Transfer

(Bar Harbor) Stephen Coston of Stay Bar Harbor has acquired an additional three downtown properties in a recent transfer of properties in the coastal tourist town.  The properties were purchased from Fishmaine Inc. for $5.15M and include the buildings for the Cherrystones and Lunch restaurants, plus employee housing, consolidating Coston’s local portfolio. The transaction follows Coston’s earlier acquisitions, including the Port Inn and Cleftstone Manor and expands his downtown holdings to include restaurants and housing.

International Visitors to National Parks Face Stiff Fees

(Acadia)  International visitors to the United States’ most popular national parks now face fees stiff enough to give tourists pause. For the first time, visitors at 11 major parks, including Acadia, Yellowstone, and Everglades, are being or will be asked, “Are you a United States resident?” Park officials say the higher fees are already making some international tourists turn away and leave.  The new pricing system, implemented January 1 by the Department of the Interior, means non-US citizens must pay a $100 surcharge, in addition to the standard $15-$35 fee in order to enter the parks.  They must also pay $250 for an annual pass, which normally costs $80.  The system is causing long lines and delays, as staff must determine proof of citizenship, a problem exacerbated by the Trump Administration’s cuts of 4,000 NPS employees last year.  In 2024, international tourists spent $254B in the U.S., according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Environment

Lubec Clam Seeding

(Lubec)  The Lubec Shellfish Committee met this week to outline plans for a clam seeding program expected to launch this spring.  The Bangor Daily News reports the Board of Selectmen approved funding for the program last year.  The Shellfish committee plans to install three 14-square-foot plots, each covered by a small mesh net to protect developing clams from invasive green crabs and other predators.  Each will be seeded with between eight and ten thousand clams, purchased from the nonprofit Downeast Institute on Beals Island.  The nets will be monitored for storm damage and other concerns.  It’s hoped such conservation efforts will potentially boost the clam harvest and help the town maintain local control of the clam flats.

Wildlife Preservation Sites Could Be in Danger

(Maine)  In December, the Trump Administration quietly announced it would begin a comprehensive review of both the National Wildlife Refuge and National Fish Hatchery Systems.  The Maine Monitor reports the directive was posted online, but not announced by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, which was asked to look for such entities that are “established for a purpose that no longer aligns with the mission of the agency”, though few details were released.  Some advocates fear the goal may be elimination or significant scaling back of wildlife preservation sites.  National wildlife refuges have played a critical role in American conservation efforts for more than a century

Sea Smoke More Common Than You May Think

(Maine)  Some call it eerie – others see it as beautiful.  Sea smoke, the cold weather phenomenon rising from the coastal waters, is just a type of evaporation fog, according to James Sinko, lead meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Caribou.  Sinko told the Penobscot Bay Press, the misty wisps occur when dry, cold air meets the surface of comparatively warmer water.  He says because the warm air rising through cold air is unstable, the fog doesn’t sit still.  Instead, it rises in turbulent, swirling columns that mimic the look of smoke rising from a fire.  Sea smoke requires a 20 to 30 degree difference in air and water temps, with wind light enough not to interfere with the process of condensation.  Now you know … but if you’re like us, the scientific explanation takes away nothing from the magic.  

Education

Program to Help Reduce Food Waste

(Maine)  A pilot program from the Mitchell Center at the University of Maine is helping reduce waste in school cafeterias. The Portland Press Herald reports the toolkit, rolled out this Fall, will help schools prepare for a food waste ban that begins in 2030.  According to the Center, Maine’s K-12 students discard an estimated 8.4M pounds of food annually.  And while that represents only 1% of the state’s annual food waste, it adds to economic, environmental, and social damage, as it ends up in landfills generating harmful greenhouse gases.  The program includes educating students and staff and awards students for not adding more to their plates than they’ll eat.  In buildings where the program was launched, schools have reportedly seen overall food waste drop by 25%, with fruit and vegetable waste decreasing by as much as 64%.  

Infrastructure

City of Ellsworth Grant 

(Ellsworth)  The City of Ellsworth has received a three-year grant designed to help communities improve transportation planning and connectivity.  The grant offers technical assistance from RCI, the Reconnecting Communities Institute, and will focus on High Street, one of the city’s most congested corridors.  Funding will support improvements such as wider sidewalks, improved crosswalks, adaptive traffic signal timing to ease congestion, and more.   For questions or input, contact the Economic Development and Planning Departments.  

Human Interest

EPL  Offers Afterschool Beach Party

(Ellsworth)  Don’t let the winter doldrums bring you down!  Dive into the Ellsworth Public Library’s After School Beach Party – this Friday at 3:30 p.m.  Soak up the summer vibes through games, activities, and relaxed afterschool fun.  Next … young readers can celebrate beloved literary characters at the Winnie-the-Pooh Birthday Picnic, Saturday at 11 A.M. … a cozy and cheerful gathering honoring the classic tales of A.A. Milne.  And for kids who enjoy hands-on challenges, the Speed Puzzling for Kids series offers an opportunity for participants to work individually or as teams to build problem-solving skills while racing the clock in this friendly competition.  That begins January 23rd at 3 p.m. and will run the fourth Friday of every month.  Always so much going on for all ages – follow the Ellsworth Public Library on social media or visit ellsworth library dot net. 

Ellsworth Moose Lodge Organizes Volunteer Pool

(Ellsworth)  Connecting a pool of volunteers with community members who need a helping hand.  That’s the goal of a new initiative led by Bill Nelson and Anthony Wyman of the local Moose Lodge.  Ellsworth Lodge members say they want to expand their role in the community, with a particular focus on supporting children and Ellsworth’s aging population by creating a centralized volunteer list.  In addition, they’ve established a community bulletin board at their location to highlight volunteer opportunities and community efforts.  Want to get involved?  Contact the Ellsworth Moose Lodge at 664-5199.

National News

Iranian Massacre Feared Amidst Regime Change

(WaPo)  The Center for Human Rights in Iran said it has received eyewitness accounts and credible reports that hundreds of protesters were killed in Iran amid a blackout there.  The Washington Post reports national security officials with the Trump Administration were preparing to meet on potential responses, including a range of military options.  Tehran has issued a formal warning that it will retaliate if the U.S. proceeds with military strikes.

Trump Administration Plans to Send More Federal Officers to Minnesota

(Minneapolis)  Escalating already heightened tensions, the Trump Administration has vowed to send more federal officers to Minneapolis.  Protests continued through the weekend after the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37 yo mother of three, after she was surrounded by heavily armed and masked ICE officers.  The Washington Post reports Minneapolis’s mayor is aggressively countering Trump officials.  Across the country, a loose-knit but increasingly organized network of activists is tracking arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem continued to insist Good was responsible for her own death, while protesters insist on an investigation that includes local law enforcement.  The FBI has taken over that investigation and continues to block Minnesota officials from evidence and from participating in an inquiry.

Venezuela/Greenland  

(Undated). President Trump is expected to meet with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado this week. The meeting follows his recent claim that the U.S. now has “de facto control” over

Venezuela’s oil exports.  Meanwhile, the White House continues to push for a deal to acquire Greenland. On Monday, European leaders and the EU reportedly discussed “emergency membership” for the island to block U.S. annexation efforts.

Proposed Interest Rate Cap

(Washington , DC). In a move that has rattled Wall Street, the administration has proposed a one-year, 10% cap on credit card interest rates to combat inflation, leading to a “Sell America” sentiment in the stock market.  The proposal faces skepticism from banks and analysts who warn it could reduce credit access for lower-income borrowers, decrease perks, and drive users to riskier lenders, potentially requiring legislation to enact. While similar bills exist, the proposal’s path to implementation is unclear, with many doubting its chances of passing. 

Muhammed Ali Commemorative Stamp

(Undated)  Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.  The United States Postal Service Monday officially announced that Muhammad Ali will be honored with two new commemorative postage stamps, celebrating Ali as a boxer and activist.  Nicknamed “The Greatest”, Ali is considered by many the greatest boxer of all time. The stamps will be available beginning January 15th in Ali’s hometown, Louisville, Kentucky.  

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