Crime/Public Safety

Ellsworth to Get Flashing Lights at Crosswalks

(Ellsworth)  Why did the pedestrian cross the road?  To shop, dine, and explore downtown Ellsworth!  After next week, a couple of those crossings will be safer. Thanks to state funding, the City of  Ellsworth will install flashing lights near the Ellsworth Public Library/City Hall crosswalk and on Main Street near Franklin Street and 86 This!  Installation will begin Monday.  The change will help pedestrians be seen and drivers stay alert, just in time for the busy summer season.  Officials say once installed, each crossing will have a push button that when tapped will set the lights flashing.  Walkers will be asked to use the button before crossing, and drivers asked to stop for pedestrians.  

Operator Killed When Lawn Mower Tips into Pond

(Friendship)  A man who went missing after his lawnmower tractor tipped over into a pond has apparently been found deceased in that pond in the Knox County town of Friendship.  The man was reportedly mowing his lawn on Timber Point Road on Tuesday when the accident occurred.  We reached out to authorities but were unable to secure further information at this time.  

Local Politics

Ranked Choice Voting

(Maine)  Back in 2016, Maine was the first state in the nation to implement Ranked Choice Voting.  Under the system, if a candidate is the first-choice of more than half the voters, he or she is declared the winner.  If no one gets more than 50 percent, candidates in last place are eliminated and their votes reallocated to voters’ second-choice picks.  The process can continue for multiple rounds until a candidate secures more than 50 percent and wins. The process is popular in Maine, but only applies to the state’s primary and federal elections because they’re governed by statute and not by the Maine Constitution, thus the state’s hybrid approach. The primaries are coming up on Tuesday, June 9th – contact your town clerk if you’re unsure whether you’re registered or for a sample ballot to be sure you’re clear on the candidates and on the issues.

Treatment Center Ok’d to Move Forward

(Ellsworth)  Everest Recovery, a network of opioid use disorder clinics, will be opening a location on the Bangor Road in Ellsworth later this year.  The Ellsworth American reports the clinic joins a number of other groups in the area working to treat and eliminate substance abuse.  However, Everest provides medication-assisted treatment, which is limited locally.  Renovations to the clinic were halted in March, after the city’s opioid treatment program ordinance was brought to the attention of the Code Enforcement Officer.  As written, the program is required to be approved by the planning board.  After further review, construction was permitted to resume, with hopes of opening the first week in September.

Economy

Yard Sale to Benefit SPCA of Hancock County

(Trenton)  Yard sale enthusiasts, this one’s for you.  Two Old Goats in Trenton is hosting their sixth annual outdoor sale to benefit the SPCA of Hancock County on Saturday, May 30th, from 8 until Noon.  They say 20 vendors will be there selling everything from crochet needles to crock pots – household goods, funky nostalgia … they say you may even find the kitchen sink.  The vendors are generously donating to the shelter.  The shop is located at 749 Bar Harbor Road, and again that’s May 30th from 8 until Noon.

AWH Community Action Launches Mobile HEAP Units

(Sullivan)  The Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP helps qualified folks pay for heating costs, provides emergency fuel deliveries; and in some cases, helps with energy-related repairs and utility payments.  With the program year ending on May 29th, the Mobile Service Unit is bringing application support to our local communities.  If you think you’ll need heating assistance but still have not applied, please stop by.  On May 19th, they’ll be at the Princeton Town Office, May 20th the Beth C. Wright Center in Baileyville, May 22nd, Calais City Building, and these Town Offices – Cherryfield on May 26th, Milbridge May 27th, Sullivan, May 28th, and Deer Isle May 29th.  We’ve also shared those dates and locations on our social media pages.  

Amazon Sites in Maine Stir Controversy

(Caribou)   Amazon’s last-mile delivery strategy is making headway in Caribou, Hermon, Waterville, and Gorham.  The Portland Press Herald reports it’s also stirring controversy.  The four stations already built or planned in Maine are part of a $4B initiative unveiled in April 2025.  But public scrutiny has grown … alongside the scale of Amazon’s newer projects, including a more than 146K square foot facility in Gorham and an even bigger warehouse in Waterville.  Citizen opposition groups cite such megafacilities’ impacts on traffic, natural resources, and overall quality of life in rural communities.

Federal Gas Tax

(Maine)  President Trump has proposed suspension of the federal gas tax, which could ease Mainers’ pain at the pump.  But the Portland Press Herald reports it might not lead to an instant, or even a noticeable drop in prices.  Proposals have been put forth to temporarily suspend the roughly 18-cent tax range from a 90 day pause to one that lasts until October.  The 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel generate about $23B annually to fund highway and transit programs.  Some warn the suspension could mean the loss of crucial revenue for transportation infrastructure.  Meanwhile, the President is asking for a billion dollars from taxpayers in order to build his grand ballroom, and the war in Iran continues to cost Americans a billion dollars a day, sending both inflation and the nation’s debt soaring.

Bucksport Church Sells

(Bucksport)  The words “historic” and “preservation” can’t be mutually exclusive.  When an historic church in downtown Bucksport continued to deteriorate, the town told its owner to fix it or tear it down.  Now, the Bangor Daily News reports, the owner of a neighboring property on Franklin Street has purchased the former Methodist Church and is in talks with the town about restoring it.  Hugh Sinclair, an antique clocks dealer in Ontario, had purchased the almost two centuries old church in 2018 in order to remove its old clock mechanism, but the building remained vacant and the lot overgrown.  The new owner, Steven McCurdy, could not be reached for comment.  However, multiple parties have described the structure as an impressive building worth salvaging.

Economy May Impact Maine Tourism

(Maine)  Tourism is a major economic driver in Maine, with visitors drawn to the coast, mountains, lakes, and forests of the Pine Tree State. The Maine Office of Tourism tells MaineBiz the state typically sees more than 15M visitors each year – and those who visit generate more than $9B in spending.  In addition, tourism supports 116K jobs at hotels, inns, and elsewhere.  This year, travelers face higher costs for gasoline, airfare, hotel rates and short-term rentals, which could impact those numbers.  A flash poll found 35% of those surveyed expect numbers to be about the same, 33% expect them to be worse than last year, 22% better than last year, and just under 10% say they’re taking a “wait and see” approach.  

Environment

World Ocean Day

(Blue Hill)  Maine wouldn’t be Maine without the sea – people make their living from it, it brings cruise ship visits, and tourists come for the views, whale watches, and lobster rolls.  June 6th is World Ocean Day.  Celebrate with the Shaw Institute, as Executive Director Dr. Charles Rolsky presents the latest research on plastic pollution, PFAS contamination, and innovative coastal monitoring efforts, highlighting how the health of our oceans impacts communities here in Maine and around the world.  The presentation will be held at the Blue Hill  Co-op from 5 to 7 p.m.  Learn more at shawinstitute.org.

Human Interest

Friendship Cottage Schedules Open House

(Blue Hill)  Friendship Cottage in Blue Hill is the area’s only adult day care facility.  As Community Action nears a planned early June closing on the purchase of the current property, the staff invites the public to gather for a summer open house and barbecue on Saturday, June 6th from 1 to 3.  They say it’s because of strong community support and fundraising, momentum resulted in raising the money to enable purchase of the home where adults with mental and other disabilities can gather during the day for crafts, food, and socializing. They say Friendship Cottage exists because people believe in caring for each other and that the open house is a chance to celebrate the community’s generosity.  

Maine Days Return to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

(Boothbay)  Bring on the color, the trolls, the fragrance, and spring – Maine Days are back at Boothbay Botanical Gardens.  From Friday, May 29th through Sunday, May 31st, Mainers can bring up to eight guests per household to enjoy acres of botanical delights, miles of hiking trails, the ever-popular giant trolls, and again this year, the Caterpillar Lab – a living caterpillar exhibit open all three days in the Education Center.  Tickets are available online now at MaineGardens.org, with Mainers looking for free tickets advised to select “Maine Day” tickets on the Gardens calendar.  A valid Maine ID will be required for entry, and the gardens are open rain or shine.  

Goode Gardening Talks Roses

(Ellsworth)  Few flowers are more lovely than roses; yet they have a reputation for being difficult to grow.  In this week’s Ellsworth American, Goode Gardening with Gabe Goode helps take the fear out of the process.  Goode says many modern roses are robust, repeat-blooming, and can be fragrant anchors of the garden, with many modern roses bred to be resistant to fungal infections and other diseases that plagued the gardens of 50 years ago.  Get a rosy start with tips from Goode Gardening in this week’s Ellsworth American.  

National News 05/15/26

Trump’s Visit to China

(AP)  President Donald Trump is in Beijing, where he says China’s President Xi JinPing told him China – the largest buyer of Iranian oil – wants to help negotiate an end to the war and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.  Trump has hoped Xi would use his leverage to push Iran into a deal.  However, the Associated Press reports experts expect few breakthroughs on the war and other divisive issues, including trade, technology, and Taiwanese sovereignty.  Last year, Trump ignited a trade war with China due to his tariff hikes.  And Taiwan, a self-governed island whose sovereignty has been historically supported by the United States, is under constant threat, with Beijing claiming it belongs to the dictatorial country.  

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