Crime/Public Safety/Drugs

HC RCC Dispatcher Credited with Saving Life

(Ellsworth)  Paramedics, firefighters, and EMTs are perhaps obvious lifesavers.  But when the 9-1-1 call comes in, it’s up to the RCC Dispatcher to stand in until first responders arrive.  The Hancock County RCC reports last Friday, Dispatcher Rolly Means processed a call and provided instructions through their Emergency Medical Dispatch protocols while the rest of the staff got people started to arrive with “hands on” assistance at the scene.  A short while later, one of the responding Northern Light paramedics called in to say Rolly’s work with the call saved the patient’s life.  Great job to a true “first” responder!

MEMA Encourages Flood Preparedness

(Augusta)  Can you name the most common natural disaster here in Maine?  According to the Maine Emergency Management Agency, it’s flooding.  Since 1970, there have been 43 flood-related disaster declarations in Maine; yet, many people don’t know their flood risk or how to prepare for flooding that can result from rain, snow, coastal storms, storm surges, and overflow of dams.  MEMA has some excellent tips for preparing ahead, what to do in case of a flood and after such disasters.  Visit ready.gov to learn more.

Local Politics

Republican Candidate’s Sister Endorses Hannah Pingree for Governor

(Augusta)  Bobby Charles is the Republican candidate running for Governor of Maine.  He does NOT have the support of his sister, Anita Charles.  Writing in an Op-Ed in the Portland Press Herald, Anita Charles said she will vote for Democrat Hannah Pingree and cannot support her brother because of his “divisive rhetoric” and stance on abortion.  She also claimed her brother was a close friend of former U.S. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, who was convicted in 2015 of financial crimes related to a coverup of the sexual abuse of teenage boys, writing her brother has never publicly renounced that association.  Bobby Charles, who recently called for ICE to be stationed at polling places, is already trailing Pingree in the polls and has drawn criticism for his hawkish stance on immigration.

Economy

Deer Isle/Stonington Join Forces to Address Housing Shortage

(DI/Stonington)  The communities of Deer Isle and Stonington have joined forces to manage a critical workforce housing shortage.  The Bangor Daily News reports the two island municipalities have hired Dan DeBord as new part-time housing manager.  DeBord’s mission is to execute a five-point action plan originally outlined by the joint Interlocal Housing Task Force.  The goal is to address an estimated shortage of more than 100 affordable housing units in order to support local workers.  The one-year position was created as a collaborative, cost-sharing effort between the two communities.

Deer Isle Sees Return on Solar Power Investment

(Deer Isle)  Things are looking bright at the Deer Isle town office, even on cloudy days. Town Manager Jim Fisher told Island Ad-Vantages the new solar panels they installed have resulted in a significant drop in costs.  That was the goal when Deer Isle and Stonington were awarded a joint $200K state grant for solar panel battery backup systems two years ago.  Both towns faced project delays, and each added between $15 and $18K to their respective upgrades, but the towns have now been pulling power from the sun for several weeks.  Fisher says short winter days will cut into power generation and they’ll always be buying power; but all told, the investment is already resulting in measurable cost savings.

Nonprofit Food Resources Share Grant Money

(Ellsworth)  Seventy nonprofits that provide food and shelter in Maine will share $1.2M in grants through the John T. Gorman Foundation.  The Pen Bay Pilot reports the funding is spread among organizations in all 16 of Maine’s counties.  Awards include $15K to the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry in Ellsworth, $20K to AIO Rockland, $30 to the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, $10K to Families First Community Center in Ellsworth, $15K to Healthy Acadia in Ellsworth, and $5K to Women for Healthy Rural Living in Milbridge. John T. Gorman is a private foundation based in Portland, whose mission is to make Maine a more equitable place where all children and families can thrive.

Education

MMA Offers Good Return on Investment

(Castine)  The cost of higher education is pricey these days, but students at Maine Maritime Academy earn a good return on the investment. Penobscot Bay Press reports, in a national ranking the school was  26th in the country for highest-paid graduates, and MMA was named the No. 2 Best Value College in Maine by Niche.com.  Graduates of MMA earn a median salary of $113K just four years after finishing school, and about 90% of graduates find jobs within 90 days of graduation.  Past studies by Georgetown University placed the academy in the top tier nationwide for long-term financial returns, even outperforming many Ivy League schools over a multi-decade career.

Environment

Orono Boardwalk Shortens Hours for the Season

(Orono)  You’ve no doubt noticed the days are growing shorter – and so are the hours at the Orono Bog Boardwalk.  As of this week, the Boardwalk is open from 7:30 to 5:30 through the rest of the month.  The boardwalk is a unique 1.5 mile loop located next to the Bangor City Forest that crosses a 10K year old living bog, with pitcher plants, wildlife, and a truly unique ecosystem that’s especially magical in the fall.  Just make sure you go early when you go this month!

Human Interest

Autumn Gold Jumbo Jackpot Tickets

(Ellsworth)  Autumn Gold Jumbo Jackpot Tickets are going fast!  Get your ticket at the Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce – every $10 ticket gives you a chance to win $2500.  And with only 500 tickets being sold, your chances are looking good – but only if you get your ticket before they’re gone.  Cash only – the Chamber is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 4, or you can get tickets at Napa Auto Parts in Ellsworth.

The Librarians Film Honored with Emmy Award

(Ellsworth)  Did you happen to catch the film “The Librarians” last April, part of the Independent Lens series screened at the Ellsworth Public Library?  The film this week garnered a 2026 Emmy Award for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking.  The documentary follows school and public librarians and Freedom to Read advocates as they defend 1st Amendment Rights so often under fire these days from special interest groups.  Congratulations, and thank you to all our librarians out there promoting reading, education, and community.

Maine Open Lighthouse Day

(Maine)  Each year, between 15- and 18-thousand visitors take advantage of the rare opportunity to climb and learn more about over a dozen historic Maine lights!  This Saturday, September 12th, is the annual Maine Open Lighthouse Day.  Sponsored by the American Lighthouse Foundation, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Maine Office of Tourism, the event brings awareness to those critical beacons that for centuries guided sailors safely into port.  Participating locations include Burnt Coat Harbor Light on Swan’s Island, Curtis Island Lighthouse in Camden, Dyce Head in Castine, Fort Point in Stockton Springs, Little River Light in Cutler, Monhegan Island, Owls Head, and the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse.  For a complete list, plus hours each is open, visit lighthousefoundation.org.

Milbridge Theatre Looking for Young Actors

(Milbridge)  Young actors and actor-wannabes, the Milbridge Theatre and Community Arts Center is looking for you!  Youth Theatre classes begin September 24th, and they need more students.  MCTAC says the program is first-rate and unlike anything offered in schools or elsewhere.  Parents, school administrators, and teachers are encouraged to contact the theatre to learn more and help inspire creativity and confidence in kids you know.  

Gardens Aglow Tickets Now On Sale

(Boothbay Harbor)  If you’re like us, you wouldn’t miss Gardens Aglow at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay!  Each year, the gardens shine with colored lights forming waves, lighthouses, birds in trees, moose in the water, and giant flowers “blooming” and “beaming” along the paths.  Tickets are now on sale for November 14th through January 2nd, Thursdays through Sundays and on select additional dates.  Weekends and holidays do sell out, so get your tickets at mainegardens.org.  In other news from the Gardens, September 15th is the final day to see native butterflies in the exhibit this year.  The gardens will remain open through October 18th with early fall color, seasonal blooms, and plenty more to explore.

Cat Takes Swimming the Channel in Stride to Hunt Dinner

(York)  Most cats want nothing to do with water, much less a swim in the ocean.  But that’s exactly what became a daily routine for a cat here in Maine named Sambo Tonkus back in the 1930s.  The 20-pound ginger tabby lived with his keeper at the Nubble Lighthouse and enjoyed clearing the small island of mice and rats.  But, of course, a tiny outcropping only holds so many vermin.  So once Sambo had “cleaned lighthouse”, he decided to go for a swim across the channel to the mainland in York to hunt on more fertile ground.  The story is well documented, as locals regularly gathered on shore to watch the treading tabby, and newspapers wrote stories about the ginger celebrity who made the trip through the chilly waters often 3 to 4 times a day.  And let’s face it … food is a powerful motivator for all of us.  

National News 09/10/26

Documents Show New Yorkers Misled About Air Quality After 9/11

(NYTimes)  In the months following the attacks on the World Trade Center, New Yorkers were repeatedly assured the air quality around the devastation was safe to breathe.  But according to the NY Times, 10 months later, health officials were still finding evidence of asbestos as far as half a mile from Ground Zero.  This week, the Mamdani administration released 170K pages of air quality reports, contamination records, and correspondence among city officials that had been stored in the city office, shielded from public view.  Mayor Mamdani has directed his administration to release the records to the public through an online portal, timing it to the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

Air Traffic Control System Failure Disrupts Thousands of Flights in Britain

(NYT)  Hundreds more flights were canceled in Britain yesterday, a day after failure of an air traffic control system disrupted more than 2,000 flights and upended the plans of countless travelers, especially at Heathrow.  While the company that provides most of the country’s air traffic control services said the issue had stabilized Wednesday, passengers were warned the widespread cancellations and delays would have residual effects.  According to the New York Times, authorities don’t believe the issue was related to a cyber attack. 

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