Crime/Public Safety

Bucksport Woman Charged with Criminal OUI

(Orland)  A Bucksport woman is facing criminal OUI charges following a Sunday night traffic stop in Orland.  The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department tells Downeast Digest deputies received multiple complaints about a vehicle that they then stopped in Orland. That traffic stop resulted in the arrest of 65 yo Virginia Chapman.  Authorities charged her with Criminal OUI and Operating After Suspension.  Chapman was taken to the Hancock County Jail.    

Local Politics

Lawmakers Promote Limiting Data Centers

(Augusta)  Maine lawmakers this month voted to advance a bill that would stop development of new data centers in the state for at least a year.  LD 307 creates a Data Center Coordination Council and gives the council time to study and review the potential impacts of such centers in Maine, according to the Portland Press Herald.  Opponents say data centers will just build in other states, leaving Maine at a loss of opportunity, jobs, and tax dollars.  But backers say such centers use tremendous amounts of electricity and actually yield few jobs once construction is complete.

Nurses Plan One Day Strike

(Bangor)  Registered nurses at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor have given notice of a one-day strike planned for Monday, March 23rd.  It’s the first strike notice issued by EMMC nurses since 2015.  The nurses say they are protesting management’s refusal to address their concerns about safe staffing and nurse retention.  The RN’s say they’ve been bargaining for a new contract since last July, with little to no movement on key issues.

Washington County Seeks More Judiciary Judges

(Machias)  Washington County Commissioners want more judiciary judges in their county.  In a letter dated March 12th, the Commissioners appealed to the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary, citing case backlogs, due process concerns, and economic strain, and noting civil and family law matters sometimes are delayed for months, leaving families in limbo.  The County says it deserves the same access to timely justice as Maine’s more populated regions and that rural geography should not be a barrier to a functional court system.  No word yet on a response.  

Lubec to Create Ordinance on Short-Term Rentals

(Lubec)  Lubec is the latest town to work on crafting an ordinance to manage short-term rentals, a step officials say is necessary in order to help manage the impact of rentals on the housing crisis in the area.  Experts say such rentals drive up rents for year-round working people, increase burdens on town services like parking, and force rising rent and homeownership costs that often price low- and middle-income Mainers out of their communities.  The committee told The Maine Monitor they hope to create an ordinance similar to one the town of Stonington passed in 2023, which differentiates between owner-occupied rentals held by residents and those owned by out-of-state residents.  

Economy

Orland Approves Waterfront Subdivision Expansion

(Orland)  The Orland Planning Board has voted to approve expansion of Sunset Cove, a waterfront subdivision with access to Toddy Pond.  The River Observer reports the subdivision was originally built in 2021 with 14 lots.  The owners then added five new lots, with an existing home already built on the remaining lot, bringing the total to 20.  At a Planning Board meeting in February, community members asked about adding a buffer between Long Point Road and the new lots, wanted common areas clearly designated, and asked that original covenants apply to the new lots as well.  The concerns were again discussed and addressed at the March meeting, with the expansion ultimately approved.  

Education

Jackson Lab Launches Biomedical Research Scholarship

(MDI)  Jackson Laboratory is launching a biomedical research scholarship for eligible students and educators.  MaineBiz reports the assistance is made possible with a million dollar donation from the Worthington Scholarship Foundation.  The program’s goal is to offer innovative, experiential biomedical research training opportunities for current Worthington scholars and alumni.  The Rockland-based foundation provides multi-year scholarships to Maine public high school graduates who attend one of its partner colleges.

Environment

Deer Isle Composting

(Deer Isle)  Deer Isle has become the first Hancock County town to accept food scraps at its municipal transfer station.  Island Ad-Vantages reports the town has partnered with Chickadee Compost, a local company that collects food scraps from homes and businesses across the county.  Residents can drop off household food waste – including meat, seafood, shells and dairy – at designated bins at the transfer station, but compostable plastics should not be included.  Diverting food waste reportedly will save the town about $200 per ton in trash hauling costs.

Restaurants Pilot ReuseME Program

(Town Hill)  A pair of Bar Harbor restaurants plan to pilot a reusable takeout container program.  The Mount Desert Islander reports Coffee Matter and Cafe This Way will test the usability of takeout containers that are eventually returned to restaurants for reuse.  The project, dubbed “ReuseME, is spearheaded by the University of Maine and is part of a larger marine debris reduction project funded by NOAA and others.  In a food packaging survey of 25 local restaurants conducted last summer, participants reported using more than 41K disposables in an average month, costing restaurants for the containers as well as for waste management services.  Restaurants in Bath and South Portland have already introduced the reusable containers, and it’s hoped there’s potential to expand across the state and make a real impact.

Human Interest

Young Entrepreneurs Market Products, Positivity

(Castine)  A few years ago, eight-year-old Coe wanted to make some money.  So he headed to the docks in Castine each day to help bail water out of the dinghies tied there.  Not to be outdone, his sister, Exy, with the help of Mom, bought tissue, felt, and flowers and proceeded to begin selling them in front of their house.  Soon, other kids and parents were contacting Mom, Kate Kana, wondering how to get in on the experience. Those tiny endeavors have turned into the Kids Farmers and Makers Market, a group that has grown from 30 kids in its first year,  to more than 50 young entrepreneurs (all are eighth grade and younger) who create their own products and services – from painted rocks to giving advice.  This year, they’ll offer their goods at five markets in Deer Isle, Castine and on MDI, with a June 27th event planned at the Union River Center for Innovation in Ellsworth.  Kate tells Downeast Digest the kids don’t just earn profits, they’re gaining confidence, learning about marketing, product placement, investing, and many insist on donating to charities.  We can’t wait to see them in action.  Follow them on Facebook so you don’t miss them!

St. Patrick’s Day History

(Undated)  Got your green on today?  It is, of course, St. Patrick’s Day, honoring the traditional death date of the foremost patron saint of Ireland, who is credited with converting the pagan Irish to Christianity.  March 17th  was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by Catholics and brew drinkers everywhere.  Celebrations traditionally include parades (not such a good day for that here in Maine this year), festivals, shamrocks, leprechauns with pots of gold and all things Irish.  In the Windy City, they even turn the Chicago River green with a secret, environmentally friendly, vegetable based dye.  However you celebrate, do so safely, responsibly, and have fun.

National News

Iran Still Has Cards to Play in Middle East

(Washington)  While the United States and Israel crippled Iranian forces in two weeks of war, the Washington Post reports Tehran still holds a formidable card or two – the ability to disrupt oil flows and a uranium stockpile.  A hardened regime remains in power, much to Trump’s dismay, and that regime is roiling global oil markets by choking off the vital shipping lane that allows oil and gas out of the Persian Gulf.  Such factors pose a major challenge to Trump’s ability to end the war as he faces increasing pressure from his own party and little support from one-time allies.  

World Leaders Call for De-Escalation in MidEast War

(ABC)  Leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom yesterday issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, where hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee their homes.  The nations condemned attacks on civilians and called for immediate de-escalation, as well as “meaningful engagement … to negotiate a sustainable political solution.”  According to ABC News, more than 200 US troops have now been wounded since the conflict began on February 28th, including ten seriously.

FCC Chief Threatens Broadcasters

(WaPo)  In yet another affront to free speech and factual news reporting, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr this week issued a warning to broadcasters, criticizing their coverage of the Iran war and warning them to “correct course” or lose their licenses.  Carr is a Trump appointee who tends to toe the line when the President speaks.  Trump on Sunday used his social media platform to accuse media organizations of being “corrupt and highly unpatriotic”, saying they get billions of dollars of free American airwaves that they use to perpetuate lies.

TSA Agents Quit Amid Partial Shutdown

(CNN)  As the partial government shutdown drags on, some 300 TSA agents on Sunday quit their jobs, the number of TSA “callouts” doubling from before the shutdown.  CNN reports agents have already missed a partial and a full payment.  The move exacerbates already serious disruptions at airports across the country.  Sources say a major sticking point is funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the Transportation Safety Administration, with some members of Congress pushing back against strongarm and illegal tactics used in President Trump’s immigration crackdown.  

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