Crime/Public Safety/Drugs

Medway Man Arrested on Arson Charges

(Medway)  Authorities have arrested a Medway man in connection with two separate fires that occurred within the last month.  The State Fire Marshal’s Office tells Downeast Digest the first fire destroyed a camper and damaged nearby structures in Medway on September 30th.  Then on October 1st, investigators were called to the scene of a gravel pit in Woodville on a report of a vehicle fire.  The investigations revealed 41-year-old Paul York owned both the camper and the vehicle and was responsible for setting both fires.  York was arrested Monday and was being held on multiple charges at the Penobscot County Jail.

Clothesline Project Highlights Domestic Violence Awareness Month

(Maine)  Domestic violence accounts for more than half of all homicides in Maine, according to a review panel.  And while the state’s overall murder rate has historically seen periods of decline, domestic abuse-related killings have increased.  One in four women and one in ten men will experience partner violence, and one in 15 children lives with domestic abuse annually, with “coercive control” – isolation, tracking, intense jealousy – forming the basis of domestic abuse, even without physical violence.  This month, the Ellsworth Public Library and the University of Maine at Machias are featuring powerful displays on the travesty. Known as the Clothesline Project, shirts are on display, with each telling a story of strength, survival, and resilience, and raising awareness for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  If you or someone you love is in need, reach out to Next Step Domestic Violence Project in Hancock and Washington Counties.

Fogtown Brewing Takes First Place at Acadia Oktoberfest

(Ellsworth)  Congratulations to Fogtown Brewing in Ellsworth.  They recently took home the Acadia Oktoberfest Peoples’ Choice First Place Award in Bass Harbor.  The event is Maine’s longest-running Oktoberfest, featuring unlimited beer tastings from more than a dozen Maine brewers, local food vendors, crafters, live music bands, and traditional Oktoberfest games.  Admission tickets included a tasting glass and a People’s Choice voting token to help pick the favorite brewery of the day.

Local Politics

Supreme Court  Declines to Hear 72-Hour Waiting Period Challenge

(Maine)  The U.S. Supreme Court this week declined to hear a challenge to Maine’s 72-hour waiting period for firearm purchases.  The law requires the waiting period for a gun buyer to take possession of a firearm after purchasing it.  Along with a law expanding background check requirements, the rule was put into place in 2024, six months after a gunman killed 18 people in the Lewiston mass shooting.  According to The Portland Press Herald, the court did not give a reason for its decision, but also declined to hear several other appeals as well.

Economy

Loss of Key Investor Leads to Uncertainty for Bangor Mall’s Future

(Bangor)  The loss of a key investor has led to uncertainty about plans to transform a struggling Bangor Mall into a mixed use community known as Bangor Marketplace & Residences.  The proposed project would house some retail and more than 200 condominiums.  Project Leader Mike Cole told NewsCenter Maine the investor withdrew at the last minute for personal reasons, calling it a “gut punch”.  In order to move forward, developers are searching for a replacement investor to contribute an estimated $4 to $6M in order to seal the purchase agreement with current owner Namdar Realty Group.

Pawesome Bites Offers Wholesome Goodies for Pets

(Harrington)  Looking for food for your pet that’s made with wholesome ingredients and without all the added yuck?  The newly-opened Pawesome Bites in Harrington is getting two paws up from furry taste testers!  Try their tiny bites collection … perfectly sized treats packed with flavors from pumpkin to paw-nana to peanut butter – great for rewarding good behavior, training a new trick, or just to give them a reason to wag.  Pawesome Bites are available in local Washington County stores like Elmer’s in Machias, and they offer local pickup and delivery.  Follow them on FB, then follow your pup’s nose to the best good-for-them treats in town.

Maine Utility Customers Due Refunds

(Augusta)  Maine electric utility customers are due a share of over a billion dollars in regional transmission funds. That’s the result of a ruling by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that New England utilities charged inflated profits most years between 2011 and 2026.  Maine is expected to receive between $130M and $150M, translating to about $20 per month for 12 months for the average residential customer.  However, the payouts are delayed until next spring while the companies appeal the ruling.  FERC extended the deadline for utilities to calculate and issue refunds to next May while utilities fight to maintain higher returns.

Education

Ellsworth High School is T-Mobile Winner

(Ellsworth)  Ellsworth High School has been named a T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights Sweepstakes Winner.  Athletic Administrator Josh Frost posted on FB a letter from T-Mobile praising the school’s spirit as unmatched.  The letter came with a check for $5K.  Ellsworth is one of a thousand schools nationwide selected for the funds that Frost announced will go toward facility and bleacher upgrades.  The school is competing for higher-tier prizes, including a Grand Prize football field makeover valued up to $1M.  Vote daily at the official T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights Website.

EEMS Fundraiser Scores Big for Birdsacre

(Ellsworth)  This year’s Ellsworth Elementary Middle School Birdsacre Owl Fundraiser brought in some fine feathered figures for the beloved sanctuary.  Mrs. Baldwin’s third graders created dozens of ceramic owl figurines that are then displayed for sale at the Ellsworth Public Library.  The students were treated to a fabulous talk by Birdsacre Director Grayson Richmond and a visit with the owls, hawks, turkey vulture and others who cannot be returned to the wild and who now call Birdsacre home.  This year’s fundraising brought in $1,550, bringing EEMS’s four-year total to more than $5300 raised for the sanctuary.

Maine Teacher of the Year Announced

(Augusta)  Muy buena!  Gretchen Livingston, a Spanish teacher at Cony Middle and High School in Augusta has been named the 2027 Maine Teacher of the Year.  Livingston has taught 25 years in Maine and was chosen from a pool of hundreds of nominations that were narrowed down to 16 Maine County Teachers of the Year, then eight semi-finalists and four state finalists.  In accepting her award, Livingston said, “Language is not a barrier – it is an asset and a bridge … that builds empathy, opens doors, and helps us see how our differences make our schools, communities, and world stronger.”  She’ll represent Maine in the quest for National Teacher of the Year, whose winner will be announced next Spring.

Rare Bird Spotted in Maine

(Cape Elizabeth)  Gray Herons are unheard of in Maine, and extremely rare elsewhere.  But Maine Audubon reports a first – a sighting here in the Pine Tree State.  They say Gray Herons are the Old World counterpart to our Great Blue Herons and look very similar.  The rare specimen was spotted Saturday off Wells Road in the fields of Jordan Farm in Cape Elizabeth.  Maine Audubon says the birds normally live in Europe, Africa, and parts of Madagascar.

Human Interest

Ellsworth Pumpkin Hike

(Ellsworth)  The Pumpkin Hike on the Ellsworth Riverwalk is back this year, and they want your help to line the way with carved pumpkins.  The Grand Prize winners in each category this year will receive a gift basket filled with goods from local businesses valued at $150!  There are several opportunities to carve with friends – at Tidal Falls this Sunday, from 1 to 4 – pumpkins and carving supplies are free if you register ahead through Frenchman Bay Conservancy; or carve at the Ellsworth Public Library beginning at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27th, or carve your pumpkin at home and submit it by October 27th – visit FBC’s website for submission details.  The gourds will be on display and lit nightly October 28th through November 1st – vote for your favorites from 5-7 on the opening evening!

Schulman Publishes Life of Judy Garland in Photographs

(NE Harbor)  Looking for a unique and special gift for the retro music lover?  Northeast Harbor resident Lawrence Schulman is putting together a visual biography of Judy Garland, the iconic American entertainer.  The book features hundreds of never-before-seen and rarely viewed photographs from the author’s private collection, including snapshots from her visits and final years, such as moments captured in New York and Copenhagen in 1969.  The stunning visuals capture every decade of Garland’s life, put together by Schulman, the consummate expert on Garland.  Expected Fall 2027, I Am Judy Garland: A Photographed Life is destined to be a classic and can be preordered through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million or IndieBound.

Infrastructure

Ellsworth City Hall Maintenance

(Ellsworth)  Plan ahead if you have business at Ellsworth City Hall a week from today.  On Wednesday, October 28th, beginning at 9 a.m., the front entrance will be temporarily closed while prospective contractors use a lift to get a closer look at the historic City Hall seal.  The City says the observation is an important step in the process of preserving and restoring this piece of Ellsworth history.  The rear entrance will be open for your convenience.

National News Headlines 10/21/26

In National News Headlines

• Desperate to find fraud that multiple investigations have failed to uncover, the Trump Administration on Tuesday unveiled a $25M Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program.  The program offers up to $30K to anyone who submits a tip that leads to a fraud

conviction or significant federal enforcement action.

• And voters in the oil-rich province of Alberta, Canada overwhelmingly voted to remain part of Canada, according to results released Tuesday.  The Associated Press reports the vote was a boost to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s push for national unity in the face of Trump’s trade war and annexation threats.

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