Crime/Public Safety

USGS Conducts Ice Breaking Operations

(Maine)  Yet another sign of spring – the US Coast Guard will be conducting Ice Breaking Operations on the Penobscot River today through Wednesday … and on the Kennebec River later this month, either the third or fourth week of March.  The Coast Guard recommends if anyone has fishing gear or other personal property it be removed before operations begin.

Investigators Release Preliminary Report on Small Plane Crash

(Bangor)  Investigators on Friday released a preliminary report on the January 25th plane crash at Bangor International Airport that resulted in the deaths of all six persons aboard. The NTSB reports so far they have found no evidence the plane’s controls or engines failed before the crash.  The early report indicates the pilot may not have allowed enough time after de-icing before takeoff.  The business jet had landed in Bangor to refuel before heading to France and crashed during takeoff, leading to multiple fiery explosions, with weather hampering recovery efforts for days.

Local Politics

City of Ellsworth Budget Workshop Schedule

(Ellsworth)  City of Ellsworth Budget Workshops begin this week, with a School Budget Presentation to City Council on Thursday.  All budget workshops take place beginning at 6 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.  You can watch the workshops live on the City’s YouTube Channel and learn more about their budget and access a schedule on the city’s social media pages.  

Ellsworth Property Taxes Due

(Ellsworth)  The City of Ellsworth says a friendly reminder that the second half of those 2026 property tax bills is due this Thursday, March 12th.  Payments can be made in person at City Hall during regular business hours or through the payment options listed on your bill.

Washington County Towns That Prepaid See Unexpected Credit

(Machias)  Things are finally looking up in Washington County.  A lack of current auditing and apparent mismanagement led to the discovery that the County was virtually broke and unable to meet payroll, bills, and repayment of its 2025 Tax Anticipation Note, or TAN. New  County Manager, Renee Gray, and three new commissioners, all four of whom inherited the problem, got to work with staff to solve the overwhelming crisis.  At the suggestion of interim treasurer Grace Falzarano, they asked municipalities to prepay their portion of a projected $8M debt in order to avoid the county defaulting on its 2025 tax anticipation note. Thirty-five of 45 towns agreed to do so. The Maine Monitor reports most of them now have an unexpected credit with the county, reflected in their tax bills – from nearly $1600 for tiny Talmadge to close to $59K in Lubec. Because of those towns that stepped up, the County was able to pay off its 2025 TAN on February 18th, two days before the deadline.  

Non-profit Hopes Friendship Cottage Facility Can Stay Off the Market

(Blue Hill)  Friendship Cottage is the only adult day care center in the region – serving those with mental and physical challenges.  With the collapse of Downeast Community Partners, the facility was in danger of having to move from their Blue Hill location. They’ve since raised more than $526 of the $700K needed to purchase the current location. But with a March 1st deadline looming, administrators met with legal counsel and members of ACAP, under whose umbrella they now operate, to negotiate a purchase without the property going on the open market.  ACAP Executive Director Jason Parent told the Weekly Packet he expects to finalize an offer and determine whether negotiations can secure a direct purchase sometime within the next week.  

Stonington Voters Opt to End Deal with HCSD

(Stonington)  Voters in Stonington have opted to end a policing deal with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office that would have contributed $89K to the municipal spending plan.  Penobscot Bay Press reports the vote came at last week’s Town Meeting and means an end to an arrangement that would have paid for three weekly, exclusive patrol shifts by sheriff’s deputies. HCSD Deputy Dakota Dupuis explained that without the contract, Stonington residents would see fewer patrols in an area that roughly corresponds to the Blue Hill Peninsula and Deer Isle.  In the end, residents voted 29-27 to reject the new contract.  Voters also denied a $7500 funding request from Opera House Arts, ultimately resulting in an approved budget of a little more than $2M, $25K over last year’s.  

Brooksville Approves Dredging Project, School Budget

(Brooksville)  Brooksville residents were met with more than ninety school and municipal warrant articles at last week’s town meeting.  According to The Weekly Packet, the town approved dredging of a channel and turning basin in Betsy’s Cove, and reconstruction of the landing, pier, and floats, and authorized the select board to issue a bond or note of up to $500K to finance the project, which will be a huge plus for fishermen.  Fifteen school warrant articles all passed nearly unanimously in less than 30 minutes, with voters approving a 4.5% budget increase over the previous year.  Voters also approved a supplemental tuition of just over $1500 per student for town students attending George Stevens Academy.  Meanwhile, the town of Penobscot rejected GSA supplemental tuition there by just two votes.

Bucksport Town Council Approves Vendor Bender Event

(Bucksport)  The Vendor Bender will be back in Bucksport this June.  The Penobscot Bay Press reports the town council recently approved a festival license for the event, sponsored by the Bucksport Bay Business Coalition.  Events are scheduled the second and fourth Tuesdays in June, July, and August from 5-8 p.m. at the town parking lot and give residents and visitors a chance to shop locally and enjoy the Bucksport Waterfront.  First Vendor Bender event is set for June 9th.  

Economy

Stonington Again Tops List of Lobster Ports

(Stonington)  The Town of Stonington again last year was the state’s top lobster port, based on landings.  The Ellsworth American reports Maine’s commercial landings totalled over $619M, down from $719M in 2024.  Stonington came in at just over $49M, down from the previous year, but higher than in 2022.  The lobster fishery represents 75% of total landings value, with inflation reportedly challenging the bottom line of lobster harvesters who took over 21K fewer fishing trips last year than in 2024.

Health

Anthem/Covenant Reach Agreement in Maine

(Bangor)  Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine and Covenant Health have reached a contract agreement.  According to a press release, the multi-year agreement allows Anthem members to remain in-network at all Covenant Health facilities.  Locally, that includes St. Joseph Hospital, St. Joseph Primary and Specialty Care, and long-term services, such as rehab, affiliated with Covenant Health.

Human Interest

Fourth Graders Volunteer at Wood Bank

(Tremont)  A group of fourth graders from Tremont Consolidated School in Bass Harbor logged some pretty impressive  learning Friday – literally.  The kids and their teachers visited the MDI Community Wood Bank, a nonprofit dedicated to keeping Mainers in need warm during the winter months.  The group arrived to find wood all split and ready for them; and they went right to work, stacking and filling two trucks with orders for wood needed by members of the community.  Another group of fourth graders from Bar Harbor is expected on March 20th.  Kudos to everyone involved for teaching tomorrow’s leaders that sometimes the most important lessons in life go far beyond the classroom.  

Where in the World is Back

(Maine)  We’re back this week with our “Where in the World is Sonnie?” contest!  Check out our social media pages to learn how you can win a $25 gift card to Pat’s Pizza.  Be sure to enter your guess at the link provided by midnight Friday.

Coastline Physical Therapy Earns Silver Award

(Deer Isle)  A Deer Isle Clinic has been recognized with a Silver Award in the 2025 Best of the 207 awards for Physical Therapy.  Coastline Physical Therapy provides comprehensive care for a broad range of patients, including athletes, fishermen, older adults, and artists.   Founded in 2017, the clinic prioritizes personalized relationship-driven healthcare, earning them recognition, trust, and positive reviews from patients who say they appreciate their thoughtful care.  The awards highlight top Maine businesses across multiple categories.  

Bearded  Dragon Almost Costs EZ Pass Driver

(Newport, RI)  Be careful who your passengers are when using those EZ Passes to pay tolls.  A driver was mistakenly charged by the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority last week after toll cameras errantly identified a pet bearded dragon instead of the vehicle’s electronic toll transponder.  Cameras show the reptile sitting on the car’s dash as it crossed the bridge between Newport and Jamestown.  The Turnpike reviewed the footage and determined the charge had been issued in error, resulting in a refund.  

National News

Plaque Honoring Police Officers Finally Hung at Capitol

(ABC News)  Visitors to the Capitol will now have a visible reminder of the violent attack on the building that occurred on January 6th, 2021.  ABC News reports just steps from the Capitol’s West Front, where the worst of the fighting occurred, workers have quietly installed a plaque honoring the officers who defended the capitol that day, three years after it was required by law to be erected.  The Senate voted unanimously in January to install it after Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson had delayed putting it up.

Iran Vows to Not Bow to Pressure from U.S. and Israel

(AP)  Israel has struck southern Lebanon, Beirut and an oil storage facility in Tehran, as the war in the Middle East continues to escalate.  Iran hit a desalination plant in Bahrain after a US airstrike damaged an Iranian desalination plant, saying, “the U.S. set this precedent, not Iran.”  The Associated Press reports such infrastructure is critical for drinking water supplies in the parched deserts of the Gulf.  Back in the United States, prices at the pump rose 14% in a week, up from less than $3 a gallon to an average $3.41 per gallon last week, as supplies of crude oil coming from the Persian Gulf are suddenly nil, cutting the world off from about one-fifth of its oil supply.  Meanwhile, Russia has responded with words of indignation, but no visible action to support its Middle Eastern ally.  Experts warn the Iran War will play into Moscow’s hands by boosting its oil revenues and eroding Western support for Ukraine.

U.S. Sub Sinks Iranian Warship Off Sri Lanka

(Sri Lanka)  The United States further expanded the Iranian War when a US submarine last week torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship off the southern coast of Sri Lanka.  Reuters reports the attack killed at least 87 sailors in international waters historically considered safe.  Sources say the ship was heading back to Iran from a port in eastern  India.  The Iranian vessel had taken part in a naval exercise organized by India in the Bay of Bengal.  Sri Lanka launched a search-and-rescue operation to locate survivors.  The U.S. was not involved in the recovery efforts.

Seventh Service Member Dies/Iran Selects New Supreme Leader

(Iran) A seventh U.S. service member has died in the war with Iran. The Washington Post reports the service member, who was not identified, was seriously wounded during the first weekend of US-Israeli strikes across the region. Nine other service members have been seriously wounded across the region. In Iran, officials say they have chosen the next supreme leader to replace Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed February 28th in the US-Israeli strikes. A senior Iranian official made the announcement Sunday but did not name the new leader.

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