Economy

Ellsworth Jewelers Steps Up for HCSC

(Ellsworth)  Ellsworth Jewelers this week presented the Hancock County Sheriff’s Charities with a check for $7900, the proceeds from their recent Diamond Dig.  The annual event allows citizens to pay a fee, grab a scoop, and dig through a trough of sand, hoping to be the lucky winner who uncovers a one-carat natural diamond.  HCSC supports local families, youth programs, and community initiatives throughout Hancock County through holiday giving for children and senior citizens, Thanksgiving outreach, youth basketball, Camp Postcard and more.  The nonprofit collaborates with the Deputy Luke Gross Memorial Fund to honor his legacy through community events.

MPUC Denies CMP’s Rate Request

(Augusta)  Denied – that’s the word from the Maine Public Utilities Commission on Central Maine Power’s request to temporarily expedite a rate increase.  CMP had argued the expedited request, part of a $189M overall rate proposal, was needed now because of the “significant financial distress” under which the utility says it is struggling.  The increase would have raised the average household customer’s bill by about $7 a month; the overall rate proposal, a raise of about $11 per month.  Experts say the denial was an indication regulators are listening to Mainers’ concerns as they face escalating costs in just about every other sector of the economy.

AVEC to Present Heating Forum

(Maine)  As winter approaches here in Maine, soaring energy costs have everyone on edge.  AVEC Community Action, along with United Way, invites community leaders, municipal officials, faith-based organizations, social service providers, and other stakeholders to attend a virtual forum on Wednesday, October 14th, from 10 to 11 a.m. that will bring together representatives who will share the latest information on home energy assistance programs, emergency resources, and community response efforts serving residents of northern and Downeast Maine.  The online forum is free.  Register at the link we’ve shared with this story on our website, Downeastdigest.news.  https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/vuf7wbv.

Eviction Prevention Program Helps Those Behind on Rent

(Maine)  With rising costs, come rising fears for those who may be facing eviction because they’re behind on rent.  Maine’s Eviction Prevention Program may help.  The program helps Maine renters pay past due and future rent up to $800 a month for up to 12 months, paid directly to your landlord.  Eligibility is based on household income, household size, and your housing situation.  Applications are prioritized based on housing circumstances and processed on a first come, first served basis.  They say even if you’re not sure you need help yet, apply now so you can be considered later.  Apply online at mainehousing.org or call 274-1240.

Maine DOE Releases Winter Heating Guide

(Augusta)  With heating oil prices increasing close to 80% over last year, the Maine Department of Energy has released its 2026-27 Winter Heating Guide to help Maine people lower their energy bills while staying safe and comfortable this winter.  The Pen Bay Pilot reports the updated guide includes practical home heating and weatherization tips, steps to access energy assistance programs, and links to online resources, including the latest energy prices and more.  It also summarizes energy efficiency and home heating programs available through MaineHousing, Efficiency Maine, community action agencies and other partners.  The guide is available on the MDOER webpage under maine.gov.

Village of Castine Outlines $30M in Infrastructure Projects

(Castine)  $30M – that’s the figure presented to the residents of Castine that is needed for infrastructure projects in the village, according to Olver Associates, the engineering firm contracted to examine the town’s needs.  The analysis updates a master plan originally written in 2009; and while a number of road projects have since been completed, many still remain, including reconstruction of Court Street, drainage, and attention to the utility pipes that run beneath the streets – many of which, they say, are undersized. According to The River Observer, town officials contend the town’s finances are in good shape, with a good deal of current debt soon to be retired.  The recommended projects will take place over many years, during which residents were told they’d be kept informed about “when and why” projects are identified and embarked upon.

Education

UMaine Gets NSF Grant

(Orono)  The University of Maine has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation to give rural Maine teachers hands-on experience conducting research in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and microelectronics.  The University says the three year project, which began this Fall, will provide 18 K-12 STEM teachers with research experiences alongside UMaine scientists and will support them in turning what they learn into lesson plans.  Instead of selecting all 18 teachers at once, the University is breaking down the program into three annual cohorts of six teachers each.  The application process will be open broadly to K-12 STEM educators who teach in rural and high-need districts across the state.  

Environment

There’s More to Maine’s Fall Foliage Than Meets the Eye

(Orono)  Oh, those gorgeous fall colors – there’s nothing like autumn in New England.  But the folks at University of Maine Cooperative Extension tell Downeast Digest, there’s more to Maine’s fall foliage than meets the eye.  They say despite a common misconception, frost isn’t what causes leaves to change color.  As days become shorter and temps cool, leaves stop producing chlorophyll.  As the green fades, those bright yellows and oranges emerge, while chemical changes in some leaves pop with the brilliant reds and purples.  Warm sunny days paired with cool nights can increase red coloration, while other weather combinations can produce a different display from year to year.  Lots of science behind the magic.  Want to learn more?  Check out extension.umaine.edu, bulletin #7078.  

Fall Tick Safety

(Maine)  Fall is the season for moving woodpiles, raking or blowing leaves, and walks in the woods.  But the Maine Center for Disease Control warns, it’s also a time to be tick-aware.  They say fall weather and frost don’t kill the pests here in Maine, and deer ticks often experience a major surge in activity during the autumn months as they search for a host before winter.  So … those fall activities can put you at risk.  Experts say remember the acronym TICKS – Treat clothes with permethrin, Inspect yourself, kids, and pets daily, Cover your skin, Know your surroundings, and Shower after outdoor activities and dry clothes on high heat for at least 15 minutes to kill hidden ticks.  If you’re bitten, follow directions for removing the tick, which you can send to the UMaine Tick Lab for testing for Lyme for a small fee that’s well worth the peace of mind.

Health

Sweet Smiles Visits Ellsworth Early Care

(Ellsworth)  Ten young children are smiling a little more brightly today, thanks to a visit by Sweet Smiles Dental Clinic to AVEC’s Early Care and Education program in Ellsworth.  Health and Safety Manager Caley Smith said children’s physical health is an important part of their early care and education programs.  The kiddos were able to connect with dental professionals for routine care and cleaning … and that’s really something to smile about.

Infrastructure

Ellsworth Preparing Parks for Winter

(Ellsworth)  It’s time to begin preparing Ellsworth’s parks for winter.  As of Sunday, October 18th, seasonal facilities, including park restrooms, will be closed for the colder months to come.  But the Parks and Recreation Department says that doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying the parks, their trails, and scenery.  And when you go … if you HAVE to go, there will be a porta-potty for your convenience at Knowlton Park.   

Human Interest

Mariner to Speak at Cape Split Schoolhouse

(Addison)  Downeast Magazine writes that mariners rank among a small subset of professionals who are attuned to weather in a way most people don’t need to be – folks like pilots and mountaineers.  Their lives depend on being able to anticipate abrupt changes in weather conditions.  Elliot Rappaport has four decades of seafaring experience, including captaining the schooner Bowdoin at Maine Maritime Academy … tales he chronicled in the book Reading the Glass:  A Captain’s View of Weather, Water, and Life on Ships.  He’s also led research expeditions across the globe.  Hear him speak this evening at 6 at the Cape Split Schoolhouse in Addison.  The event is free and open to everyone.  

Indigenous People’s Day at the Abbe Museum

(Bar Harbor)  The Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor is celebrating Indigenous People’s Day Monday with a host of activities … and pay-what-you-wish admission.  Explore stories, art, history, and performances that honor the relationship between the Wabanaki peoples and the waters that sustain life through what the Wabanaki consider a sacred, living relative. Grammy Award-winning Ojibwe and Oneida artist Ty Defoe will perform, and there will be hands-on art activities, interactive history presentations and more. Presented in partnership with the Smithsonian Institute.  The celebration gets underway at 10 a.m. Monday at the museum on Mount Desert Street.

National News 10/06/26

Analysis Shows Voter Fraud Extremely Unlikely

(Undated)  With early voting underway a timely report by the conservative Heritage Foundation shows claims of widespread voter fraud are unfounded.  The organization, a think tank dedicated to promoting conservative public policies such as the so-called “Save Act”, found that in the 24 years between 1999 and 2023, there were just 77 cases of non-citizens who successfully cast a ballot, a statistically microscopic number.  During that same period, more than a billion ballots were cast, with only 10 cases of undocumented immigrants who voted uncovered, confirming a total of seven hundred sixty-four hundred-millionths of a percent of ballots cast fraudulently by non-citizens. 

President Faces Backlash for Remarks Calling for Attacks on US Cities

(AP)  President Donald Trump faced swift backlash from remarks made this week at a campaign rally.  When talking about the possibility of an Iranian attack on US soil, Trump said, “It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe”, referring to the war and its economic fallout, adding “They can take out a city.  Let ‘em take out Los Angeles.  Let ‘em take out San Diego.  This is a very small price to pay.”  Critics, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, called Trump “deranged and dangerous”.  According to the Associated Press, the administration attempted to explain away the remarks saying the president was not insinuating he wanted Iran to attack U.S. cities, but instead wants to prevent Tehran from having that capability.

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