Crime/Public Safety

Maine Firefighters Deploy to Colorado

(Maine)  At least 20 firefighters from Maine have deployed to Colorado to assist with the Aspen Acres Fire, including Tyler Granata of the Scarborough Fire Department.  The fire now spans more than 92K acres and was just 12% contained as of yesterday.  At least three firefighters were killed on June 27th after being overrun by the fast-moving Snyder Fire near the Colorado-Utah border.  The three were from Michigan, Arizona, and Alabama.  

Blue Hill Discusses Ongoing Vandalism at Blue Hill Town Park

(Blue Hill)  Ongoing vandalism of portable restrooms at the Blue Hill Town Park has prompted the town’s Select Board to discuss possible security measures.  The Weekly Packet reports officials are concerned ongoing damage and tipping of the units could cause the restroom provider to stop servicing the park.  Among suggestions … moving the porta potties closer to the fire station and setting up a security camera there, or enclosing them and locking them after hours.  But some worry installing a camera nearby would create privacy concerns, even if aimed just at the exterior.  The Board ultimately decided to contact the manager of nearby Peninsula Ambulance Corps, a 24-hour station, to help safeguard the facilities after hours while the Board looks for a more satisfactory solution.

Local Politics

Ground Broken for Hancock County Courthouse

(Ellsworth)  City and state officials gathered just off High Street in Ellsworth Tuesday afternoon to break ground for the new Hancock County Courthouse..  Originally proposed for a site on the Surry Road, neighbors and others concerned about traffic and other issues pushed back.  The City and State listened, and a study resulted in the state purchasing an approximately 18-acre parcel behind Merrill Furniture  from Alice Wardwell last year, with the City acquiring a right of way to provide public access to the property via Merrill Lane. The new 25K square foot courthouse will be 2.5 stories, house four courtrooms, a consolidated clerk’s office, at least eight conference rooms, and have 125 public parking spaces.  The courthouse will be home to  the Hancock County Superior and Ellsworth District Courts, which will remain at the current site until the new facility is completed.

Maine Group Pushes Universal Health Care Ballot Initiative

(Augusta)  The push for a universal health care ballot initiative was evident at the polls during last month’s primary election.  According to The Maine Monitor, in addition to the thousands who showed up to vote, 125 volunteers were present at polling stations across the state in order to collect signatures to get the question on next year’s ballot.  Supporters hope to encourage state lawmakers to establish publicly- funded healthcare coverage at a time when rising costs and insurance rates are putting a strain on many Maine families.  If the petition collects at least 67,682 signatures by next April, it will appear on the state’s 2027 general election ballot. The United States is the only first-world country that does not provide universal healthcare for its citizens.

Accusation Leads to Democratic Party Calling for Platner to Step Down

(Sullivan)  The Maine Democratic Party has called for candidate Graham Platner to withdraw from the U.S. Senate race.  The call follows accusations by a former girlfriend, Jenny Racicot and first published in Politico, that claim Platner forced her to have sex with him five years ago.  Sources say the fallout has thrown the critical race against Republican Susan Collins into chaos. Platner released a social media video vigorously denying the rape allegation, calling it a smear campaign by out-of-state operatives.  July 13th is the legal deadline for Platner to officially withdraw his name from the November ballot, though that seems unlikely.  The party would then have until July 27th to select and submit a replacement.

Court Rules on Separation of Church and State

(PPH)  A federal appeals court has, for the most part, agreed with Maine law in a recent ruling on religious schools and public funding.  The Portland Press Herald reports the federal court agreed two religious schools cannot take public tuition dollars while violating the state’s employment and gender discrimination laws.  A lower court had previously rejected a request brought by the schools last year  – Crosspoint Church, a part of Bangor Christian Schools, and St. Dominic Academy in Auburn, but said the two were likely to prevail on an argument regarding religious expression.  The decades-long debate centers on Maine’s town tuitioning program which states that in towns without a public high school, the municipality pays for students to attend other eligible private or public schools.

King Proposes Maine as Coast Guard Cutter Homeport

(Washington, DC)  Independent Maine Senator Angus King is urging the United States Coast Guard to make Maine a homeport for its cutting edge – literally – ice breakers, also known as cutters.  MaineBiz reports King co-chairs the Senate Arctic Caucus and is pushing deepwater ports in either Portland or Eastport, calling them ideal as a base of operations for the vessels.  Delivery of the first three such vessels, to be based in Alaska, is expected in 2028.  The Senator also cited the state’s proximity to the Arctic, its deep expertise in maritime operations, and an ecosystem built to sustain such equipment over their decades of service.

Economy

WERU Radio Names New GM

(East Orland)  WERU Community Radio in East Orland has named Kristen Spalding as new General Manager.  The Pen Bay Pilot reports Spalding is expected to take the helm in late August.  Spalding, a Colby College grad, grew up in Bucksport and most recently worked in development at Bagaduce Music in Blue Hill.  She’ll replace longtime GM Matt Murphy who earlier this year announced his retirement after leading the station for nearly three decades.

Small Business Stats

(Undated)  Downeast Maine runs on small businesses, and MaineBiz this week reports on the latest from the National Federation of Independent Businesses.  Hiring remained steady last month, with job openings increasing after a slowdown in May.  While more employers are looking to hire, many continue to struggle to find qualified workers, even as wage pressures start to ease.  Among statistics cited, 32% of small business owners have unfilled job openings, with 62% of owners attempting to hire in June.  84% of businesses that hired reported having few or no qualified applicants.

Kids’ Farmers and Makers Market in Little Deer Isle This Weekend

(Little Deer Isle)  If you missed the Kids Farmers and Makers Market in Ellsworth last month, you missed a real treat!  Dozens of young, elementary-age entrepreneurs wowed us with handmade jewelry, baked goods, paperweights, knitted wear … every unique offering you can imagine!  Founder Kate Kana said the market is a wonderful lesson in handling everything from homemade goods, to money, to the public.  This Saturday, July 11th, the kids will be at LDI Lobster on Little Deer Isle from 11 to 1.  Trust us, it’s an event you don’t want to miss!

Education

Blue Hill Educator Honored

(Blue Hill)  Congratulations are in order for Dawn McLaughlin, Assistant Superintendent and Director of Teaching and Learning at School Unit 93, which covers Blue Hill, Brooksville, Castine, Penobscot, and Surry.  The Weekly Packet reports in June, McLaughlin was named the 2026 Maine Curriculum Leader of the Year.  The award recognizes exceptional leadership in curriculum development, instruction, and student achievement.  McLaughlin, who has been in education for 35 years, began her career as an Ed Tech and worked her way up to her present position.

Environment

Humpback Whale Spotted in Penobscot Bay

(Searsport)  Perhaps it was that statue of Big Jim on display outside the nearby Penobscot Marine Museum that called to him.  Whatever the case, a humpback whale was spotted and filmed feeding in Penobscot Bay near Searsport on Sunday.  Local angler Jake Hall captured the moment the humpback surfaced, which the Bangor Daily News shared on FB and we, in turn, shared on our page.  Environmentalists say whales are frequently active in the region during the summer months, taking advantage of local baitfish like herring and young mackerel.  

Human Interest

Heart of Ellsworth Releases Postcard Puzzle

(Ellsworth)  Heart of Ellsworth hopes you’re a bit puzzled about the country’s 250th birthday.  The organization has released a limited-edition historic postcard puzzle featuring a rare 1910 image of Main Street decorated in patriotic bunting.  The 500 piece puzzle depicts an extended Fourth of July celebration during President Howard Taft’s visit to the city.  Release of the puzzle follows the success of Heart of Ellsworth’s sold-out limited-edition “Ellsworth – The Friendly City” puzzle.  Key partners in the project include the Ellsworth Public Library and Ellsworth Historical Society.  Take advantage of the $29.99 presale price through July 31, a $5 savings, with proceeds benefitting Heart of Ellsworth’s work to keep downtown Ellsworth vibrant, welcoming, and connected.  Available online while supplies last.

Thursday Night Series Continues at Ellsworth Public Library

(Ellsworth)  “Give me your tired, your poor … your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”  Though sadly controversial today, the United States has always been a melting pot of opportunity for the oppressed.  Tomorrow night at 6, hear firsthand what it’s like to flee a civil-war-torn country.  Abdi Iftin, a naturalized American, former refugee, and author of Call Me American, shares his journey from Somalia to Maine, along the way teaching himself English, reporting as a guerilla journalist, and navigating the US immigration system, despite repeated setbacks.  It’s part of the Thursday Night series presented at and by the Ellsworth Public Library.  For more information, visit ellsworthlibrary.net.

National News 07/08/26

Thousands of Pounds of Hot Sauce Spill on Ohio Roadway

(Columbus, OH)  Giving new meaning to the term hot asphalt, a semi truck leaked 40K pounds of Frank’s Red Hot sauce onto an Ohio highway amid last week’s brutal heatwave.  According to The New York Post, the incident happened on I-71 north of Columbus.  A trailer was hauling the popular condiment when it developed the leak, causing a massive, messy spill.  First responders and the Ohio EPA treated the spill as a hazardous material concern that could not be washed away because of nearby storm drains and waterways.  Crews instead used containment pools to collect the liquid.  Local fire crews and social media users had a field day with the incident … and Frank’s famous catchphrase, “I put that (insert four letter word) on everything.”  They weren’t kidding!

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