Crime/Public Safety/ Drugs

Belfast Arson Arrest

(Belfast)  Authorities have arrested an 18 year old Belfast man in connection with a fire he allegedly set in his home’s basement.  Firefighters were called to 53 City Point Road shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday evening.  They say they arrived to find the homeowner had extinguished a small basement fire, but the residence was filled with smoke. They then ventilated the home, and the State Fire Marshal’s Office responded to determine a cause of that blaze.  As a result, Christopher Gordon, who lived at the home with other family members, was taken into custody and charged with Arson.  Gordon at the time was on conditions of release in an unrelated matter, so no bail was set pending an initial court appearance.

Hancock Man Arrested in Cherryfield

(Cherryfield)  A Hancock man was arrested Thursday in Cherryfield, following a month-long investigation which included controlled purchases of methamphetamine in Harrington and Cherryfield.  Simultaneous search warrants were issued for 81 Wilson District Road in Harrington and 29 Campbell Hill Road in Cherryfield.  Arrested were 47 yo Matthew Small of Hancock and 40 yo Marissa Oulette of Fort Kent.  The searches also turned up a 9 mm handgun and $2400 in suspected drug proceeds, cocaine, and other items consistent with drug activity.  The two were taken to the Washington County Jail.  Officials say more arrests are expected in the case.

Cause of SwissAir Plane Diversion to Bangor Revealed

(Bangor)  Officials say smoke on a SwissAir airplane that was diverted to Bangor this week was due to a damaged headphone charging case.  Airline officials said the case slipped into a seat and became jammed, causing it to heat up, sending smoke into the plane’s business class section.  The plane was on its way from Zurich to JFK when it made an emergency landing at Bangor International Airport, forcing closure of the runways for a short period.

Local Politics

Scarborough Town Councilors Cast Vote on ICE Detention Center

(Scarborough)  Town Councilors in Scarborough this week voted unanimously to close or relocate that town’s ICE facility, issuing a proclamation calling on Maine’s Congressional delegation to take steps to ensure follow through.  Demonstrations continue across the state after the killing by ICE agents of Johan Sebastian Guerrero earlier this month in Biddeford.  NewsCenter Maine reports the resolution also requests the delegation to advocate for more transparency regarding operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and for federal agents in Maine to be held to certain standards. 

New Laws on Immigration Operations in Effect

(Maine)  New laws are now in effect that limit state involvement in immigration operations.  FoxBangor reports this week, three “ICE Out of Maine” laws take effect that restrict state involvement in federal immigration operations.  The move will limit Maine law enforcement’s participation in the federal government’s mass deportation campaign.  One source said the laws are, “… proof people in Maine and our elected officials will not sit idly by when our neighbors are in need.”

Vote Endangers Historic Preservation

(Maine)  More than 1600 sites in Maine are eligible for or listed in the National Register of Historic Places – including historic Downtown Ellsworth, which just recently received that designation, thanks to efforts by Heart of Ellsworth and others.  Now, Maine Preservation reports, a vote by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation aims to gut protections and eliminate public engagement on such sites.  If the changes go through, federally funded actions like construction of new transmission lines or highways can proceed without public notice or review.  And opportunities to identify new sites for the National Register could be eliminated, outright ignoring cultural landscapes central to Tribal Nations, such as Mt. Katahdin.  Maine Preservation asks those concerned to take action.  You’ll find more information on the post we’ve shared on our FB page.  

Eastport Battles Proposed Data Centers

(Eastport)  The City of Eastport is facing a giant – proposed large-scale data centers, controversial for several reasons, including reports of their excessive use of resources.  The Eastport City Council will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, August 5th, in the Shead High School Gym, in order to gather public input on a pair of proposed ordinances:  one prohibiting such centers and a second that would require voter approval for commercial and industrial development.  Interested persons can view the proposed ordinances on the City’s website and at City Hall.  The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. next Wednesday.

Court Proceeding Regarding Washington County Manager Moved to Federal Court

(Machias)  A court proceeding seeking a restraining order blocking County Commissioners from terminating County Manager Renee Gray that was to be held yesterday in Washington County Superior Court was cancelled.  The case has been moved to U.S. Federal District Court in Bangor.  Sources say it becomes a federal case because 14th Amendment Rights were violated.  No date for that trial has yet been set.  We’ll keep you updated both here and on social media.

Economy

Franklin Food Pantry Opens

(Franklin)  Kudos to the town of Franklin!  They now have their own food pantry, thanks to Franklin Community Table.  Stop by tomorrow from 10 until Noon to check it out during their Open House. Light refreshments will be served, and you’re welcome to bring non-perishables to help stock the shelves.  The pantry is located at 10 Main Street in Franklin.

Ellsworth Mobile Pet Service

(Ellsworth)  An Ellsworth animal lover is proving to be a godsend to pet owners.  The Ellsworth American reports Jessica Kelley is a licensed vet tech operating a mobile pet care clinic to support our furry friends.  Kelley said she started Jessica’s In-Home Vet Tech Services after an elderly gentleman brought his cat into the clinic where she works for a nail trim.  The man shared that his poor cat becomes extremely car sick each time he has to transport her.  So…Kelley offered to come to him.  Thus, a business was born.  While not a veterinarian and unable to prescribe meds and/or offer euthanasia, she does do nail trims, anal gland expressions, mat shaving and cat lion cuts, ear and eye cleanings and more … and she’ll make house calls up to a 30-minute drive from Ellsworth.  For more information, you can email her at the link we’ve provided with this story on our website, downeastdigest.news.

jessicakelley0423@gmail.com or call 928-853-9980.

Environment

Scientists Expect Lobster Population to Decline

(Maine) Stock up on those lobster rolls – it’s not looking good for the lobster population.  The Maine Monitor reports scientists expect a decline from now on and it’s worth diversifying the state’s commercial fisheries in order to make the industry more resilient, especially in the face of climate change.  They say diversification could take a number of different forms, including adapting gear to better target individual species as southern species move north into the Gulf of Maine.  Another option – embracing aquaculture, which Maine is already seeing with the rise in oyster and kelp farms.  Fishing ports like Stonington are seeing more activity than they did 20 years ago, likely driven by the high price of lobster, but a research biologist at NOAA said things don’t look stable, either in terms of the fishery or the ecosystem.

Health

Recall Leads to High Demand for Home Grown Lettuce

(Maine)  Salad has been off the menu for many this summer, due to an outbreak of cyclospora that has been linked to lettuce from a company in Mexico.  The outbreak has sickened people in all but a handful of states.  A CBS News poll found 40% of us have changed our diets as a result.  But the Midcoast Villager reports that locally grown lettuce is as safe as ever, and is in growing demand.  Tenderwild Farm in Rockport says sales have been up to 45% higher than during the same four-week period last year.  And during the summer, when local greens are readily available, the Belfast Community Co-op doesn’t sell any lettuce that’s grown more than 20 miles away.  So there you have it, just another reason to eat your greens … but only if you shop locally.

Human Interest

Flash-in-the-Pans Concert to Benefit Everybody Eats!

(Ellsworth)  Everybody’s favorite Flash-in-the-Pans, the Blue Hill-based community steel drum band, will hold a benefit concert for Everybody Eats! on August 10th at Knowlton Park.  The donation-based concert will thrill attendees from 7:30 to 9, sponsored by Maine Shellfish, a longtime supporter of the Ellsworth nonprofit.  Everybody Eats! serves close to 150 people a hot meal, salad, and dessert from 1 to 3 p.m. at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church every Monday – almost double the number they served pre-pandemic.  Founded in 2009, the program began operating as a program of Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry in 2025 after their previous sponsor, Downeast Community Partners, ceased operations.  

Haystack Celebrates 75th Anniversary

(Deer Isle)  Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle is celebrating their 75th anniversary at this year’s upcoming Open House.  Representative Holly Eaton will present a certificate from the legislature, co-sponsored by herself and Senator Nicole Grohoski, marking the occasion.  The Open House is set for Saturday, August 8th from 1 to 5 p.m. and will feature artist demonstrations that include laser etching, weaving on looms in the fiber studio, glass blowing, printmaking, metal embossing, and more.  The event is free and open to the public.

August at the Versant Power Astronomy Center

(Orono)  August promises to be a truly “stellar” month at the Versant Power Astronomy Center!  Executive Director Shawn Laatsch tells Downeast Digest, a partial solar eclipse is on the calendar August 12th – the last chance to see a solar eclipse in Maine until 2045!  Plan to observe the eclipse with the Clark Telescope.  A partial lunar eclipse happens August 28th and 29th.  During August at the Center, the 2 p.m. family program on Sundays is “The Secrets of Gravity”.  Join Luke and his robot friend as they discover the mysteries of gravity at the Albert Einstein Museum.  Taylor Swift fans can celebrate the 4 p.m. music shows with Enchanted: A Taylor Swift Musical Journey.  That’s Sundays at 4 p.m..  And keep your eye on the Center’s social media page for an exclusive announcement coming Thursday about special shows the week of August 10th that promise to be a secret huge surprise!  astro.umaine.edu.

National News 07/31/26

GDP Grows More Slowly During Second Quarter

(NYT)  Gross Domestic Product grew at a slower rate in the second quarter, and the New York Times reports persistent price pressures are unsettling financial markets.  GDP expanded at an annual rate of just 1.5%, as the war with Iran upended prices, supply chains and energy markets.  Growth was down from the 2.1% rate of annual growth in the first quarter, amounting to uncertainty for the U.S. economy battered by persistent inflation and the destabilizing war in the Middle East, along with the potential for higher borrowing costs. Feds have left interest rates alone – for now.

US Diplomats Walk Out of UN Meeting

(AP)  In National News this week, U.S. diplomats walked out as their French counterparts were speaking at the United Nations, after close European ally France criticized the Trump Administration’s human rights record.  The Associated Press reports the walkout reflects not only the strained relations between President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, but also wider tensions between the U.S. and Europe, including Trump’s waning commitment to NATO and his desire to control Greenland, which belongs to Denmark, a member of NATO.  U.S. Deputy Ambassador Dan Negrea accused France of “disingenuous grandstanding”.  

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