Crime/Public Safety

Hampden Public Safety Good Neighbor Program

(Hampden)  The Hampden Public Safety Department is living up to their name through The Good Neighbor Program, designed to provide support to families affected by Alzheimer’s, related dementia and other memory or cognitive impairment issues.  Any Hampden resident with such issues is eligible to enroll. Persons with such issues may wander from home and not know how to return.  If enrolled in the Good Neighbor Program, Hampden Public Safety officials say they’ll be equipped with critical information, including a recent photo, which will expedite a search and increase the chances of bringing someone  home safely.  Visit the Town of Hampden website to learn more.

Smoke Alarms for Eastport

(Eastport)  The American Red Cross has a pressing safety question for Eastport residents – do you have working smoke alarms?  They say if not, or if your smoke alarms are more than 10 years old, the Red Cross can help.  On Saturday, March 21st, they’ll be in Eastport for a home fire safety event, installing FREE smoke alarms for anyone who needs them.  Last year, the organization responded to 290 fires in Maine.  They say home fires claim seven lives every day across the US, and that working smoke detectors SAVE lives.  If you live in Eastport, make your appointment by calling 1-800-464-6692.  We’ve shared that number on our website and other social media, as well.

Local Politics

Downeast Woman’s Portrait Added at Statehouse

(Augusta)  With an alleged connection to the Epstein files, the portrait of Senator George Mitchell last week was removed from the Maine Statehouse in Augusta.  In its place, a portrait of a Downeast woman you may never heard of, but who was one of the most pioneering women in the state’s history.  Representative Nina Milliken tells us Gail Laughlin was born in Robbinston in 1868.  She was the first woman from Maine to practice law – virtually unheard of for women at the time, and became a national suffragist, organizing and speaking across the country long before women gained the right to vote.  Laughlin served multiple terms in both the Maine House and Senate, helped raise the age of consent for marriage, and advanced public health and fairness under the law.  The addition of her portrait is a fitting tribute during Women’s History Month.  

Former Owner of Bucksport Motel Settles Lawsuit

(Bucksport)  The former owner of a Route One motel in Bucksport has settled a lawsuit, though neither he nor town officials are admitting liability.  The River Observer reports Asad Khaquan owned what he called the Spring Fountain Motel when the town council voted to declare the property a dangerous building, citing plumbing and electrical issues, heat and mold concerns.  Khaquan sued, accusing the town of civil rights violations. The town reportedly spent $90K in legal fees, with townspeople picking up the tab.  Khaquan will receive $15K from the town’s insurer to settle the suit.  The building’s new owners have been working to restore the property, but say a recent inspection showed issues that must be addressed before the building can reopen.

Economy

Hancock County Sheriff Charities Making Magic with Returnables

(Ellsworth)  Put your returnables to work for the good of the community!  Now through March 4, 2027, Union River Redemption is teaming with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Charities for a full year of bottle-powered goodness.  URR will pick up large loads for FREE, and every bottle you donate helps the Sheriff’s Charities provide Christmas for kids and seniors who need a little extra joy, heating assistance during Maine’s coldest months, support for victims of domestic violence seeking safety, and help for families who’ve lost their homes to fire.  Turn those returnables into hope, warmth and holiday cheer.  Check out our FB page for details.

Maine Fishermen’s Forum

(Rockport)  It’s Day Two of the 51st Maine Fishermen’s Forum at the Samoset Resort in Rockport.  The three-day annual event brings together fishermen, sea farmers, gear suppliers, state and federal scientists and regulators, and other stakeholders, with a goal of education, collaboration, and commerce.   The forum is a private event which the public is invited to attend, with seminars and the trade show offered at no cost.  If you’d like to stay for dinner, tonight is the Friday Fish Fry, with a Banquet and Dance Party rounding out the event on Saturday.  Tickets for meals can be purchased at maine fishermens forum dot org.

Home2 Suites Eyes Late Summer Opening

(Ellsworth)  The new Home2 Suites by Hilton being built near Walgreen’s in Ellsworth hopes to start welcoming guests this summer.  The hotel, owned by Witham Family Hotels, which also operates the next-door Hampton Inn, will accommodate longer stays, with rooms that include a kitchenette and workspaces.  Eric Marichal, director of strategic operations at Witham, said they hope to open Home2 Suites for business in late summer, with reservations beginning about two months prior to opening.  

Education

Sumner Students Take Speech and Debate Skills to Nationals

(Sullivan)  A group of students from Sumner High School in Sullivan knows what they’re talking about … especially when they’re competing at speech and debate competitions.  Seniors Reese Bryant and Emily Green, along with juniors Christopher Delgado and Quinn Vey, will be competing in nationwide speech and debate tournaments in Washington, DC, and in Richmond, Virginia this year.  Sixth grader Ronan Russel and fifth grader Magnolia Johnson, respectively the first- and second-ranked middle school competitors in the state of Maine, will be attending a tournament as well.  The kids and their coaches need your help to get to these events!  Check out the fundraising link on the Sumner High School FB page.  Good luck, teams!  We’re so proud of you!

Infrastructure

Deer Isle Causeway Funding Secured

(Deer Isle)  The Deer Isle Causeway is the only road connecting Deer Isle and Stonington to the mainland.  Storms in early 2024, combined with astronomical high tides, meant the towns were cut off temporarily – and residents faced the reality that with climate change, things would only get worse.  Now, a multimillion dollar project to rebuild and raise the causeway by 4.6 feet may begin in late spring next year.  The project was dependent on $12M in congressionally directed spending that was included in an appropriations bill by Republican Senator Susan Collins last year …  but that wasn’t secured until just last month.  The Bangor Daily News reports final plans are expected this spring, with MDOT set to hold meetings for public feedback.  

Human Interest

Time Change

(Maine)  Most of us will set our clocks back an hour – the ones that don’t change automatically – before we go to bed tomorrow night, costing us an hour of sleep but allowing a bit more daylight in the evenings.  The practice of changing clocks twice a year is anything but popular, criticized by health experts among others for its effects on our well-being.  Few other countries observe the practice, and legislators have proposed doing away with the practice that was established in the US by Benjamin Franklin and signed into law as part of an energy conservation during WWI.  After more than 100 years, it’s time to retire the practice; but that would take an act of Congress.  And that’s why maybe we’d just better sleep on it.

Gardening 101

(Ellsworth)  If thoughts of the time change and spring have you yearning for a garden full of color, look no further than this week’s Ellsworth American.  Gabriel Goode is a local gardener who has a magic touch when it comes to turning a patch of bare soil, even one that lacks nutrients, into a regular Eden.  Beginning this week, Goode shares his expertise in an every-other-week column called “Goode Gardening”.. This week, he tells us we don’t have to wait for the snow to melt to start that paradise of natural wildflowers that will draw bees, butterflies, and beauty to our landscape.  Pick up your copy of the Ellsworth American and get growing.

Ellsworth Featured in “Best Downtowns” List

(Ellsworth)  We knew it all along, but now, World Atlas dot com has featured Ellsworth in its “Nine Best Downtowns in Maine”.  Thanks to Heart of Ellsworth, which shared with us that the publication features the Riverwalk North, The Grand, Black Moon Public House, Provender Kitchen and Bar, and Woodlawn Ellsworth.  Heart of Ellsworth, Frenchman Bay Conservancy, and the City of Ellsworth continue to work on the Riverwalk and expanding the Sculpture Trail.  So many reasons to love our downtown, its shops and attractions – thanks for shopping, dining, and art-ing locally!

Sullivan Summer Resident’s Film to Debut at Cannes

(Sullivan)  It’s a long way from tiny Sullivan, Maine to Cannes, France – the international center of the film universe.  But the Ellsworth American reports that will be the journey for a local young director in May.  Twenty-two yo Claire Delaney will attend the Cannes Film Festival to watch her short film, “Swine”,  showing at the iconic event.  The piece tells the story of Sophie, a young woman escaping tragedy in Arkansas on a northbound journey towards Nova Scotia, with a pit stop in Sullivan.  It deals with themes including sexual assault, abuse, and empowerment.  Delaney said she came up with the premise during the “Me, too” movement, and that her crew had no problem finding captivating aesthetic shots here in the area, with Maine’s innate natural beauty and the churning waters of the Sullivan oceanfront a natural for the character.  She anticipates the movie will be fully released by next December, after a year of film festival showings.

Ellsworth Architect Honored

(Ellsworth)   Congratulations to Carla Haskell, principal architect and owner of Design Group Collaborative, on her recent selection for Maine Preservation’s 2026 Honor Awards.  She’ll be recognized in a ceremony in Portland later this month.  Nominated by the Ellsworth Historical Society, Haskell currently serves on their Board.  She has also served on the Board of The Grand theater in Ellsworth and has been instrumental in preservation of the Old Hancock County Sheriff’s home and jail

National News

Trump Administration Replaces Noem as DHS

(Washington, DC)  The Trump Administration yesterday announced it was replacing embattled Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.  In her place, Trump nominated Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mulling.  Noem faced a grilling this week on Capitol Hill, challenged with tough questions from Democrats as well as members of the GOP.  According to the Associated Press, Trump said he will make Noem a “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas”, a new security initiative he said would focus on the Western Hemisphere.  

States Sue Over New Global Tariffs Imposed by Trump

(AP)  More than 20 states challenged President Trump’s new global tariffs on Thursday, filing a lawsuit over import taxes he imposed after a stinging loss at the Supreme Court.  The Associated Press reports the Democratic Attorneys General and Governors in the lawsuit argue Trump is overstepping his power with planned 15% tariffs on much of the world.  The suit comes a day after a judge ruled that companies who paid tariffs under Trump’s old framework should get refunds.  The White House claims the President is acting within his power.  

Trump Says He Wants to Be Involved in Determining Iran’s New Government

(UAE)  After initially proclaiming the people of Iran should be solely responsible for choosing their new government, President Trump on Thursday said he should be involved in choosing Iran’s next Supreme Leader.  The Associated Press reports the comments came as the US and Israel hammered the country for a sixth straight day, with Iran keeping up its retaliation on bases and countries around the region.  The war has escalated each day, affecting an additional fourteen countries across the Middle East and beyond.  

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