Crime/Public Safety

Child Abuse Prevention Month

(Maine)  One hundred seventy four children in Lincoln and Knox counties were victims of child abuse or neglect in 2024.  It’s likely the numbers are similar or even higher in Hancock, Washington, and Penobscot Counties.  In fact, research indicates nearly one in seven children in the U.S. experiences abuse or neglect each year.  This month, Healthy Kids in Lincoln and Knox Counties are joining a national movement to shift the conversation from crisis intervention to proactive community support.  The Pen Bay Pilot reports local businesses, family support providers, educators, and community leaders are being called to keep a promise to children and families to support them long before a crisis occurs. To learn more about their three-fold approach and to get involved, visit healthy kids maine dot org.

National Distracted Driver Awareness Month

(Undated)  We’ve all been there.  You’re driving along and get a text.  You think, “It’ll just take a sec,” pick up the phone, and next thing you know, you’re swerving back onto the road, thanking your lucky stars you didn’t wreck  … or worse, hurt or kill someone.  The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety wants everyone to remember drivers have one job – to drive safely.  And that means never driving distracted and always keeping your eyes on the road.  Between April 9th and 13th, multiple law enforcement agencies across the state will be conducting additional patrols, looking for drivers texting or using their phones while driving.  They say, just drive.  Everything else can wait. 

Local Politics

Lobstering Community Raises Concerns About Labor Complaint

(Maine)  The Maine Department of Labor last month fined Maine’s House Minority Leader several thousand dollars, citing a child labor law violation case.  Republican House Representative Billy Bob Faulkingham has vowed to fight the penalty … and the lobster community and others are rallying to his defense.  MDOL says Faulkingham employed a fourteen year old “in a hazardous occupation” temporarily on his lobster boat.  That charge was dropped after an appeal, but a fine for not keeping records of the child’s hours and payments, as mandated by state law, has stood.  Documents show Faulkingham failed to do that, but he says the fine is politically motivated.  Many in the industry agree, saying it’s far from uncommon for young people to learn the work ethic early by working on lobster boats, digging potatoes, raking blueberries and other forms of labor.  MDOL says it follows a standard process of investigating alleged labor violations and that all parties are entitled to a hearing and representation by legal counsel.  

Blue Hill Residents to Vote on New Public Safety Building

(Blue Hill)  Blue Hill residents will vote this weekend on whether to fund work on a new public safety building.  The Blue Hill Fire Department and Peninsula Ambulance Corps are hoping to renovate and relocate to the town-owned Tenney Hill Site.  According to The Weekly Packet, residents could also see a significant increase in 2026 property taxes – ranging from 8.2 to 9.7 percent, depending on how voters decide on warrant articles at the Town Meeting.  

Economy

Downtown Ellsworth District Added to National Register of Historic Places

(Ellsworth)  Chalk up another honor for the Ellsworth downtown district.  Heart of Ellsworth announced today the district has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.  Nomination paperwork was created last year and underwent a thorough review by a committee formed by Heart of Ellsworth that included representatives from the Ellsworth Historical Society, the City’s Historic Preservation Commission, local architects and other experts, led by retained consultant Clarisa Diaz.  It was then submitted to the Maine Historic Preservation Office and  approved at the state level during their February meeting, at which time it was advanced for federal designation.  The national designation is a key component in positioning Ellsworth for continued economic and cultural growth.  Under Heart of Ellsworth’s direction, Ellsworth was designated a Main Street America Community in 2024, joining a national network of “locally driven programs committed to strengthen downtowns through economic vitality, historic preservation, and community based revitalization”.

Prospective Mall Buyer Wants to Develop Condos

(Bangor)  The local investor group that has signed an agreement to purchase the troubled Bangor Mall wants to redevelop it as a residential and retail destination.  MaineBiz reports Bangor Marketplace and Residences, LLC is in the process of being formed for the purchase and ownership of the property.  According to company spokesperson Michael Cole, negotiations with current owner, Namdar Realty, have been underway for the past eight months.  Cole credited Democratic State Senator Joe Baldacci of Bangor for helping move the proposal forward.  The redevelopment would convert space formerly occupied by Sears into 200-plus condominiums, using condo sales to fund structural improvements and code compliance, and full modernization of the property.  The condo units would reportedly be supported by essential businesses, including grocery, cafe, gym, health clinic, daycare, laundry, and assisted living.  

Education

TLC in Island Schools

(Undated)  The students and teachers in the one- and two-room island schools off the coast of Maine looked a little different as the doldrums of March dragged on.  The kids on Great Cranberry, Isle au Haut, Monhegan, and other islands sported strange hairdos and mustaches, backwards clothing, pajamas and other unusual garb.  It was all part of Maine Seacoast Mission’s Teaching and Learning Collaborative, or TLC’s, time honored tradition of Spirit Week.  Each day of the week for about 25 minutes at the end of March, the TLC schools came together on Zoom for a parade to show off their different personas.  One highlight was “favorite person day”, as everyone dressed up as a real life idol, or someone from a book, movie, or TV show.  The Mission said the best part of the week was seeing the smiles on students’ faces – judging by the photos we saw, we’d say the kids would agree.

Seacoast Mission Opens Summer Camp Registration

(Machias)  Maine Seacoast Mission has opened registration for their 2026 EdGE summer camps.  Camp opportunities are offered in three locations across the Downeast region – Addison, Machias, and Milbridge – for children in kindergarten through eighth grade.  Staff focuses on making each day the best day ever for campers … with plenty of free play, literacy-based craft and story time, STEM, arts and crafts, and board games.  Kids also have an opportunity to work on skills learned during the school year.  Camp is $30 per student per week, and you can sign up for the entire summer or a week at a time.  Scholarships are also available.  Visit seacoast mission dot org.

Environment

Birds, Bees, Buds … and Bears

(Undated)  Birds, bees, and buds – all welcome signs of spring.  You’ve no doubt already seen the robins, heard the white throated sparrows, and seen those snowdrops and hyacinths peeking up through the still-frozen ground.  We highly recommend the free Merlin app from Cornell University to identify the birdsongs you hear.  Another “B” – black bears are beginning to wake from their winter dens and are becoming active.  Environmentalists say Maine holds the largest black bear population in the eastern US – ranging between 24 and 36 thousand, so expect encounters and bring in the feeders at night.  Speaking of feeders, wondering when to put out those hummingbird nectars?  In Maine, experts recommend late April to early May.  While the tiny energizers might not appear until May, they say having feeders out ensures sustenance for the early arrivals who often travel long distances to get here.

Colder Waters Signal Fewer Lobsters in Traps

(Undated)  From Penobscot Bay to the Bay of Fundy, the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries says the Gulf of Maine has been experiencing water colder than it’s been in 35 years.  When it comes to the world’s fastest warming body of water, that’s a good thing.  But colder winters often mean fewer lobsters in the traps.  Experts cite two reasons for that – they say the crustaceans sense small changes and will walk to avoid waters that are too cold, moving offshore to warmer bottom water.  They say it also makes them sluggish, feed less, and less likely to enter traps.  The sluggishness sounds a lot like what happens to the rest of us come winter.  As for eating less … moving on.

Ellsworth Students Paint Flags for Earth Day

(Ellsworth)  Those talented Ellsworth students are at it again.  All this month, you’ll see their creativity waving in the breeze on Main Street.  Art teachers at the middle and high schools put out a call for art, and students stepped up to volunteer their time and talents to design and paint one-of-a-kind Earth Day Flags, on display through May 1st.  The City’s Parks and Recreation Department provided materials, and the results are a colorful reminder to take care of the earth and enjoy the coming beauty of spring.

Health

Cicada COVID

(Atlanta)  As often happens just as we build up our immunity, a new COVID variant appears to be spreading through at least half the country, prompting warnings from public health officials.  Nicknamed the “cicada” the BA-point-three-point-two virus might spread more easily than previous variants and could even evade immunity in people previously infected or vaccinated against COVID because of a mutation that allows it to avoid antibodies.  The mutation has been detected in 25 states, including all of New England, according to the CDC.  Symptoms appear similar to the flu, with runny or stuffy nose, fever, headache fatigue, sore throat, body aches, vomiting, and, similar to other COVID variants, changes to the sense of smell or taste.

Human Interest

Holy Season

(Undated)  Finally, we want to wish all our friends who celebrate, a special holy season.  To our  Hindu friends who celebrated the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil with Holi, or the Festival of Colors, thanks for inspiring our local color runs and a time of mending relationships. Muslims wrapped up fasting for Ramadan in February and Eid al-Fitr in March. For our Jewish friends, Passover began at sundown Wednesday, and many will be celebrating its end April 9th with the Seder, commemorating the deliverance of the Jews from Egypt.  For our Christian friends, it’s Good Friday, remembering the crucifixion of Jesus, followed by Resurrection Sunday, also known as Easter.  And our Buddhist friends will be celebrating Theravada New Year on April 13th.  Of course, many will simply celebrate with baskets and Easter Egg hunts.  However you celebrate, here’s to the return of goodwill and fingers crossed for peace on earth.

National News 04/03/26

Pam Bondi Out as Attorney General

(Washington, DC)  Pam Bondi is out as U.S. Attorney General.  The President on Thursday wrote on his Truth Social platform Bondi would be “transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector”, though he gave no specifics.  Sources say Trump had been frustrated with Bondi in several areas, including her handling of the Epstein files and that she had not done enough to investigate or prosecute his political enemies.  Bondi will be replaced, at least temporarily, by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Hegseth Asks Top Army Official to Step Down

(AP)  In his Wednesday night address, President Trump said US forces will keep hitting Iran “very hard” in the next two or three weeks and bring the country “back to the Stone Ages”, even while touting the success of US operations there. Trump insisted all of Washington’s objectives have so far been met or exceeded, although it continues to be unclear what those were.  Stocks dropped during the President’s speech, indicating a lack of confidence, and oil prices remained elevated at over $108 per barrel.  On Thursday, 40 countries, led by France, began talks on how to open the Strait of Hormuz. The US was not invited.  Meanwhile, the Pentagon says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in the middle of a war,  has fired the Army’s top uniformed officer, General Randy George.  CBS was first to report the ouster, the latest of more than a dozen firings of top generals and admirals by Hegseth since he took office last year.  

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