Crime/Public Safety

Steuben Lobsterman Found Dead in Dyer Bay

(Steuben)  The body of a Steuben man was recovered from the waters of Dyer Bay early yesterday morning.  The Maine Department of Marine Resources issued a press release reporting the Maine Marine Patrol was notified about 9 p.m. Tuesday night after local fishermen noticed a vessel running with no one on board.  Authorities launched a search, using a remotely operated vehicle to scan the waters near the 35-foot “Aces and Eights”, which was moored near the wharf at the end of Merritt Road in Steuben.  That search was suspended about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday morning due to low visibility.  Family members found the body of 63 yo Thomas West in the water near his boat, about 6 a.m. Wednesday morning and notified the Marine Patrol before search efforts restarted.  West’s body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta to determine an exact cause of death.  

Raymond Man Faces Attempted Murder Charges in Bar Harbor Crash

(Bar Harbor)  A Raymond man is facing a dozen charges, including possible attempted murder, after authorities say he crashed head on into a Bar Harbor police cruiser following a high speed chase.  WABI reports 22 yo Riley McClure was speeding on Route 3 last Saturday night when he collided with the cruiser in Hulls Cove.  Officers say McClure may have been driving under the influence.  The officer in the cruiser was unhurt.  Documents show charges include aggravated assault, eluding an officer, and criminal mischief, with bail set at $50K.  

Economy

Maine NonProfits Receive Housing Grants from TD Bank

(Bangor)  Nonprofits in Bangor and Brunswick are among 40 nationwide that will receive a total of $10M from TD Bank through the TD Charitable Foundation’s Housing for Everyone grant program.  Penquis CAP, headquartered in Bangor, and Brunswick-based Tedford Housing each plan to use their $250K grant monies to provide eviction prevention support.  MaineBiz reports at Penquis the funding will support close to 155 income-eligible individuals with services, including rental counseling, tenant education, landlord-tenant mediation, and targeted financial assistance.  A Penquis spokesperson said Maine’s high housing costs, wages that have not kept pace, and a severe housing shortage have created conditions that leave far too many people vulnerable to eviction.

Environment

Become a BHHT Trail Steward

(Blue Hill)  Chances are, if you live anywhere in the area, you’ve hiked trails maintained by Blue Hill Heritage Trust.  Community participation is essential in keeping BHHT’s stewardship goals for each trail system and preserve on track.  Beginning next month, the non-profit has a series of trail maintenance dates – a date for each trail throughout the summer.  Volunteers visit the trail and report any concerns or issues, take clippers to cut back overgrowth, tend to small-scale cleanup projects like keeping sticks off the trail, repainting trail markers and blazes, taking photos of the trail for social media and more.  Interested?  Join their Trail Steward Team!  You’ll find a list of dates and trails on their FB page, along with a QR code to sign up!

Bangor Only US City to Make All Three ALA “Cleanest Cities” Lists

(CNN)  The next time you’re in Bangor, take a deep breath – seriously, it’s ok.  CNN reports the American Lung Association recently declared Bangor, Maine the only city in the country to make all three “cleanest cities” lists.  Jean MacRae, a University of Maine Associate Professor, notes the area benefits from weather systems, a high concentration of forest lands that filters the air, distance from polluting industries, and a relatively small population. Typically, the ALA report has at least one other city making all three lists – in some years, several.  They say this year’s list with a sole city is a “grim indication of the deterioration of air quality nationwide.”  The Association says Bangor has zero days of unhealthy ozone and short-term particle pollution, and some of the lowest year-round concentrations of dangerous particle pollution in the country.  Los Angeles remains the worst city in the country for ozone pollution, holding that dubious distinction in all but one of the report’s 27 years.  

Health

Letting Go of Grudges

(WaPo)  Holding grudges – we know it’s not good for us, but how hard it is to let go when years of dedication result in being stabbed in the back by someone considered a friend, innocent childhoods are marred by the harsh words of parents or teachers, or as in Minnesota recently, one feels betrayed by his or her own government.  The Washington Post cites research that says forgiveness is a process … and we don’t always get it right the first time.  But they say letting go is important for our physical and mental well-being.  One Harvard study suggests these five steps from the acronym “Reach” – recall the hurt and the emotions it generated – try to empathize with the offender –  practice altruism – exploring the idea forgiveness can be an altruistic gift to the offender – make a voluntary commitment to forgive, and seek to hold onto or maintain forgiveness through difficult times.  Find more at the link we’ll post with this story on our website.   hfh.fas.harvard.edu

Human Interest

Sea of Blue 5K

(NE Harbor)  Tomorrow looks like perfect weather for a run, a jog, a walk, or just a celebration!  Northeast Harbor is the place to be for all of those at the annual Sea of Blue Autism Awareness 5K/10K and 2-mile walk. This is one where the community and local businesses really step up – filling Harbor House in NE Harbor with jewelry, gift cards, a Smart garage door opener, a double outdoor grill, auto supplies, a trip with Bar Harbor Whale Watch – the items donated for the silent auction are truly endless!  The course is absolutely beautiful, and if you put off registering, you can do that tomorrow morning beginning at 8 a.m.  Be aware they’re working on the bridge in Somesville, so plan on five extra minutes to arrive in time for the 2 mile walk that begins at 9:30 or the runs which begin at 10.  If all goes as usual, Race Founder Christopher Heel will be leading the pack … and I’ll be along in time for lunch.  It’s a seriously fun morning – hope you’ll join us!

Blue Hill Fair Announces 2026 Dates

(Blue Hill)  The Blue Hill Fair has announced dates for 2026!  They’ll be at the fairgrounds September 3rd through the 7th.  Spend your Labor Day weekend enjoying the animals, food, rides, and neighbors you haven’t seen since last year’s fair.  And, of course, they’ll have special features and events celebrating America’s 250th!  The skillet toss, the food, the fairway, the food, the entertainment – did we mention the food?  Richard’s Custom Woodworking and Laser Engraving is just one of the phenomenal craft vendors already working on customers’ favorites and all new products.  We’re hoping Zuckerman’s Famous Pig, Timber Tina’s Great Maine Lumberjack Show, and the talented rescue pups entertainment will all be back as well!  Mark your calendar now!

McDevitt to be Inducted into Hall of Fame

(Ellsworth)  Ellsworth, Maine native Mike McDevitt has been named to the 2026 Sports Hall of Fame Class, with induction ceremonies set for September 27th in Portland.  McDevitt was a standout and four-year starter for the St. Joseph’s men’s basketball team and remains on the athletic staff there.  Accolades include 15 conference or regional Coach of the Year honors, three Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association honors, and many more accolades.  In 50 seasons in athletics, McDevitt never experienced a losing season.

Frances Perkins Center to Expand Educational Programming

(Newcastle)  If you benefit from Social Security, minimum wage laws, or any of a host of worker protections, you have an activist who called Newcastle, Maine home to thank.  Frances Perkins was a woman ahead of her time, serving as Labor Secretary under FDR … the first woman to serve in a Presidential cabinet.  The Perkins family homestead in Newcastle was designated a national monument in December 2024, and the monument’s inaugural curator, Kate Webber, has big plans for the country’s 433rd national park site.  MaineBiz reports Webber will lead the center’s education and interpretation team and guide the development of interpretive exhibits and materials.  The monument’s upcoming season runs from June 17th through October 11th.

Fort Knox and Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory Near Opening

(Stockton Springs)  A week from today marks the 2026 season opening of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory and the Fort Knox Historic Site.  The Fort’s wrought iron gate will open and the observatory elevator will take visitors up 420 feet to look out over gorgeous panoramic views of mid-coast Maine.  Opened in 2006  the bridge boasts the world’s tallest public bridge observatory, offering unbeatable 360-degree views.  Regular entrance fees apply at both the observatory and Fort Knox.  And look for ghost tours – one for kids and one for adults – coming to the Fort in June.  Park cleanup day is tomorrow from 10 to 2 if you’d like to help get things ready. 

Plans for Ellsworth Playground Move Forward

(Ellsworth)  Plans for renovation at the Knowlton Park playground in Ellsworth are progressing, however slowly, particularly after the City enacted a discretionary spending freeze this spring, prompted largely by significant overtime overages incurred by police, fire, and other departments.  The Bangor Daily News reports the City will finalize a design to renovate the 22 yo playground but is not currently promising any financial obligation.  The anticipated upgrade replaces the existing playground with a cabled climbing system at its centerpiece at an estimated cost around $485K.  A final proposal to City Council and request for any funding not covered by grants and fundraising is expected this fall for construction to begin next spring.

National News 04/24/26

Britain’s Parliament Passes Bill to Make Cigarettes Inaccessible to Future Generations

(AP)  It’s the great UK smokeout.  The United Kingdom’s Parliament has passed a bill to make cigarettes inaccessible to future generations in the UK.  The legislation means children born after December 31st, 2008, will never be able to buy cigarettes in the country under the new Tobacco and Vapes Bill.  The Associated Press reports the law comes after a decades-long campaign by the group Action on Smoking and Health.  The passage gives the U.K. one of the toughest anti-smoking measures in the world.  It’s similar to one passed by New Zealand lawmakers in 2022 but that was later repealed by a subsequent government.

Trump Issues “Shoot and Kill” Orders for Iranian Small Boats in Strait of Hormuz

(Iran)  President Trump on Thursday ordered the United States military to “shoot and kill” Iranian small boats that deploy mines to choke traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.  The Associated Press reports,  in a social media post yesterday morning, Trump said the military was intensifying its mine-clearing efforts in the critical waterway.  The move escalates the US-Iran standoff in the Persian Gulf.  Also, Thursday, the US military said it seized another tanker associated with smuggling Iranian oil, deepening confusion over efforts to end the war.  Meanwhile, yesterday, Lebanon and Israel were set to hold a second round of direct talks in Washington to discuss the possibility of extending the ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah militants.  The meeting comes just days after the two held the first such direct talks in three decades.  

Save Act Now Law in Four States

(Vote.Org)  The so-called “Save Act” is now law in four states, making it increasingly difficult for American citizens to vote. Vote dot org reports South Dakota’s law is already in effect.  New voter registrants must provide proof of U.S. citizenship in state and local elections, meaning they must show a birth certificate or passport.  Utah’s law will take effect on May 6th.  In a review of more than 2 million voter records there, Utah identified ONE apparent noncitizen registrant who had never voted.  Mississippi’s law will take effect July 1 and authorizes verification of existing voters, including annual checks of voter rolls against a federal immigration database.  Florida’s law will take effect January 1, 2027.  Voting-rights groups there filed a lawsuit the same day the law was signed, arguing it could create barriers for eligible voters who don’t have easy access to the required documents.  

© 2026 Downeast Digest News.  All rights reserved.