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Keeping Maine Beautiful

DOWN EAST magazine • August 2026

The highway crews, bottle redeemers, and altruists who clean up after everyone else.

Maine lobster defamation suit hits choppy waters

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 1, 2026

The Maine lobster industry’s defamation lawsuit against a California aquarium that red-listed the fishery as a threat to an endangered whale took a hit this week in federal court, with judges voicing skepticism over the industry’s legal arguments. During oral arguments, a three-judge panel questioned whether an industry of 5,600 members can legally claim libel over scientific opinions publicized by the Monterey Bay Aquarium about the rope-based fishery’s impact on the endangered North Atlantic right whale. The judges’ pointed questions suggest the industry faces a steep climb to keep its legal challenge alive in the appeals court.

Column: Rare birds keep turning up in Maine this summer

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 1, 2026

A bridled tern has been haunting the waters of southern Maine. A gull-billed tern was sighted several times in the Popham Beach area. A Forster’s tern has been spotted a few times in southern Maine. A royal tern wandered over to Matinicus Rock last Thursday. During an all-day voyage on Bar Harbor Whale Watch sharp-eyed birders picked out a tufted puffin among the thousands of Atlantic puffins nesting on Machias Seal Island. Tufted puffins nest exclusively in the northern Pacific. Does a tufted puffin seen near Machias Seal Island count as a bird seen in Maine? The island is claimed by both the United States and Canada. Two shorebirds are unexpected summer anomalies. A Baird’s sandpiper is at Kettle Cove, Cape Elizabeth. A long-billed dowitcher is in Scarborough Marsh. ~ Bob Duchesne

Waldoboro lobsterman buys longtime midcoast seafood wharf

LINCOLN COUNTY NEWS • August 1, 2026

Owning a fishing wharf had been a lifelong dream for Waldoboro resident Derrick Parlin. That dream came true when he purchased Osier’s Wharf in South Bristol and reopened the business on June 16 as Parlin’s Lobster Wharf. Parlin had been lobstering since the age of 12, had been fishing out of Osier’s Wharf for the past 15 years, and owned the 54-foot boat F/V Killshot. Parlin said he thought those experiences gave him a strong understanding of what it would take to run the wharf successfully. Parlin will be introducing some new menu items and is hoping to open a bar or a restaurant in the building.

This hike leads you to an enchanting waterfall on the Appalachian Trail

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 1, 2026

Surrounded by slate walls that reach up to 90 feet tall, Little Wilson Falls is one of the most impressive waterfalls — or series of waterfalls — in Maine. And it’s fairly accessible. From Monson General Store, where I enjoyed a hardy Trailblazer Sandwich, it was just a 20-minute drive to the trailhead off of Elliotsville Road. The upper falls is called a “horsetail,” meaning it’s long, thin and fans out at the end. Horsetail waterfalls drop off a steep cliff face but maintain contact with the rock beneath. ~ Aislinn Sarnacki

Freeport sculptures pay homage to Maine’s state flower — the pinecone

TIMES RECORD • July 31, 2026

“Pinecones with Tassel,” created by Patrick Plourde of recycled shovels, is the latest artwork to be displayed in front of Town Hall thanks to a partnership between the town and Meetinghouse Arts. “I really appreciate that both the Pinkies and the pinecones have not only the sustainable materials piece, but they’re tied to nature,” said Freeport Town Council Chair Joanna Benoit. “So there’s a tie to thinking about how we interact with our environment.”

Former midcoast college donates 27-acre park to town of Unity

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 31, 2026

The town of Unity voted Friday to accept a popular park from Unity Environmental University. The university said it has supported the town by providing access to the park for years and the gift “guarantees public ownership and access for generations to come.” Some Unity residents have complained that the 27-acre Field of Dreams park, which has sports fields, a tennis court, a playground and shorefront on Unity Pond, had fallen into disrepair. The park was created in the 1990s and later taken over by the university, formerly known as Unity College, which announced last month that it had sold its Unity campus for $6 million. The identity of the buyer has not been disclosed, but the university has said the new owner will convert the campus into an “upscale summer camp.”

Dam operator says Penobscot River flows met federal requirements during outage

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 31, 2026

The operator of the McKay Station hydroelectric facility said water continued to flow into the West Branch of the Penobscot River during Monday’s turbine shutdown, meeting the minimum release requirements under its federal license. The shutdown renewed criticism of Brookfield Renewable’s operations after a similar 2023 shutdown killed fish and aquatic life. Anglers, guides and conservation groups say the latest event again exposed fish to sudden dewatering, while a preliminary estimate suggests thousands of juvenile landlocked salmon may have died.

Yale survey indicates Mainers losing interest in climate change

MAINE PUBLIC • July 31, 2026

Big majorities of Maine residents believe in global warming, think it is caused by human activities, and that it is harmful. But public interest and concern with global warming slipped in 2025, according to the Yale University Program on Climate Change Communication. Big majorities supported transitioning away from fossil fuels, regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant and building solar and wind power in their local area. Fewer than half of people, however, said they have felt the effects of climate change or believe it will harm them personally. Since President Donald Trump assumed office last year, the federal government has hobbled renewable energy, boosted fossil fuels, stopped publishing some emissions data and obstructed research into climate. Meanwhile, the U.S. and other parts of the world are facing bouts of dangerous heat, wildfires and other disasters made worse by a warming climate.

Maine lobster boat builder nets first clean engine waiver

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 31, 2026

A Maine boatyard is building the nation’s first lobster boat exempt from modern clean-air rules thanks to a waiver program designed to offer financial relief to the state lobster fleet, but that opens the door to more diesel pollution in fast-warming New England waters. The exempted vessel taking shape in the yard at Wesmac Custom Boats in Surry is heading south to a Massachusetts buyer, but it sets a powerful example for Maine, home to the country’s largest lobster fleet. The Surry builder said there’s simply no room for a bulky exhaust scrubber under the deck.

Latest Brookfield Dam Shut-Down Hits West Branch of Penobscot Massive Fish Kills

TROUT UNLIMITED • July 30, 2026

A two-hour dam shut down and sparks from old electric transmission lines at facilities owned by Brookfield Renewable on the West Branch of the Penobscot River triggered fish kills and forest fires this week. This is the latest such event, which killed hundreds of landlocked salmon.  The latest fish kills and fires renew repeated calls—so far ignored—for improved onsite dam monitoring and staffing, and proper maintenance of aging infrastructure. "Brookfield has shown no inclination to adequately maintain its transmission lines between McKay Station and Millinocket, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has taken no action to change that since a similar event occurred many times before,“ said Steve Heinz, Maine Council of Trout Unlimited, representing some 1,500 resident conservationists and sportspersons. “On the current course of inaction, we can unfortunately expect more of the same -- fish kills and forest fires.”  

Monumental Success?

DOWN EAST magazine • August 2026

Carving Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument out of Maine's north woods was a big win for conservationists and other supporters. A decade later, questions about what the property could–and should–become are still up for debate.

Over 15,000 pounds of tuna landed in Maine this week

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 31, 2026

The eighth annual Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza concluded Thursday with anglers landing 30 Atlantic bluefin tuna weighing a combined 15,429 pounds. The total more than doubled last year’s 13 fish, while participation increased from about 40 boats to about 60.

Maine joins seven states legalizing “Plug in” Solar

SUE INCHES BLOG • July 31, 2026

“Plug in solar” and “balcony solar” refer to small solar panels that can be plugged into a standard outlet and can provide electricity directly to a home or business with no connection to the electric grid. Sometimes several units can be strung together. And some units come with battery storage. Plug in solar is ideal for renters, people without a roof suitable for solar, or people who don’t plan to stay in their home long enough to see a rooftop array pay for itself. Plug in solar is a breakthrough because it can save users money without the need for subsidies, permits, or utility permission. In July, Maine became the eighth state to legalize “plug in solar”. Thirty-five other states are considering legislation to pave the way for these portable solar units. This makes sense. Legislators on both sides of the aisle are eager to provide constituents with relief from high energy bills.

Opinion: Bangor should bring back the Flying Yankee

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 31, 2026

Bangor once hosted a sleek, stainless steel, diesel-electric passenger train called the Flying Yankee. She was elegant and futuristic and fast, covering the distance to Boston in less than four-and-a-half hours. Hard to believe this train debuted in 1935. America used to have a railway system that was the envy of the world: a combination of long-distance trains, streetcars and interurban light rail. Almost overnight, we scrapped it, replacing rails with blacktop, and the more we extended and widened our highways, the greater the congestion became. The Flying Yankee is presently being refurbished in New Hampshire. The goal is to return it to running condition. Close your eyes and imagine the old girl slipping into Bangor. ~ Robert Klose, Orono

Model finds high tick risk across Franklin County

FRANKLIN JOURNAL • July 31, 2026

Every Franklin County community rates high for potential tick encounters under a new town-level model, with Temple, Weld, Sandy River Plantation, Carrabassett Valley and Carthage tied for the county’s highest peak-season score. The findings come from TickZone, a free website that combines county-level Lyme disease data with satellite land-cover information, seasonal tick activity and daily weather. Founder Nathan Burnett cautions that the scores estimate the likelihood of encountering ticks and do not predict infections.

Letter: Maine roads need to be cleared of vegetation

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 31, 2026

Along miles of state roads, highways and interstates, trees, brush, and tall grass have been allowed to grow mostly unchecked, creating a serious safety hazard that should no longer be ignored. Overgrown vegetation can block sight lines at intersections, highway entrance ramps, and merging lanes, forcing drivers to make dangerous split-second decisions. On local roads and highways, it narrows the usable shoulder, pushing pedestrians and bicyclists farther into traffic lanes and increasing the risk of serious accidents. It can also reduce motorists’ ability to see deer and other wildlife before they enter the roadway, leaving little time to avoid potentially deadly collisions. It’s time to stop making excuses and start cutting back the overgrowth. ~ Rod Hathaway, Veazie

How many of these Maine fishing adventures have you completed? See which belong on your bucket list.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 31, 2026
Maine boasts unique fishing opportunities and fish that often go underappreciated by locals. Here are six experiences every angler should try at least once.
• Catch and cook a landlocked salmon
• Go smelting
• Catch a fish on a fly rod
• Catch an Arctic charr
• Stay at a historic Maine sporting camp
• Catch a striped bass
Catch a musky or a whitefish? See the alewives migrate or canoe the Allagash? Whatever it is, the best part about an angler’s bucket list is that there’s always another adventure waiting.

Experts say the number of insects in Maine is dropping

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 31, 2026

Reliable, long-term data about the populations of the thousands of insects in Maine is generally limited, individual observations don’t necessarily indicate trends, and many factors can influence their behavior, according to naturalists. But numbers of insects — which pollinate plants, including crops, and fill a key role in the food chain — have declined sharply worldwide in recent decades, and it’s having noticeable impacts in Maine. “Whether you care [about insects] or not on a species level, every living human should care if you want to keep living,” said Doug Hitchcox, a naturalist at Maine Audubon. “We need insects.”