Shifting Vision: Joel Babb’s Painted Universe

FARNSWORTH ART MUSEUM • September 10, 2026

The imagination of Joel Babb is balanced by his painterly precision, resulting in sweeping landscapes that shift between illusion and reality. His emphasis upon passageways, often defined by light, results from multiple vantage points and degrees of detail. These visual shifts evoke a hiker’s sense of trek and discovery, whether through large-scale, aerial views of Boston or ground-view perspectives of the Maine wilderness. Shifting Vision: Joel Babb’s Painted Universe will feature a dozen large-scale works, ranging from his earliest to most recent Maine paintings, with an examination of philosophical and technical approaches that shape his practice. At Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland, October 3, 2026 – January 31, 2027.

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Unique stretch of New England forest under threat after proposed rollback of roadless rule

MAINE MONITOR • September 11, 2026

One of the few unbroken stretches of land in New England reaches across the White Mountains that straddle the border of Maine and New Hampshire. And the unique ecosystem is under threat. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture filed to rescind “in its entirety” the national 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which prohibits road construction, logging and mining on about 30% of lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. “The attempt to rescind this is not just an attempt to remove robust protections for healthy habitat, animal migration, healthy soil — it’s really an attempt to try to steal a public health resource,” said Jeff Swayze, a registered New Hampshire guide and mental health counselor.

Maine forests still largely green as foliage reports begin

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 11, 2026

Maine began its annual fall foliage reporting season Sept. 9, but forests across the state remain overwhelmingly green. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry rated both color change and leaf drop as “very low” in all seven foliage zones. Maine Forest Service experts expect color to develop along its typical progression from north to south, with trees at higher elevations generally changing before those at lower elevations. “Even though this summer’s lack of rain may dull the colors and shorten the season in some areas, Maine should still have beautiful fall colors across the state, especially in the western mountains, which have received a good amount of rain,” state foliage spokesperson Gale Ross said.

Baxter State Park sues owner of historic cabins on Katahdin Lake

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 11, 2026

Baxter State Park Authority is suing a man who allegedly allowed the decay of historic wilderness sport cabins on Katahdin Lake. Charles FitzGerald bought the more-than-100-year-old Katahdin Lake Wilderness Camps in 2002. The park started leasing him the 31-acre site to operate as a wilderness sporting camp in May 2007, and the one-year lease was renewed through 2018. The lawsuit alleges FitzGerald breached his contract and seeks to have a judge declare that the park has the right to his personal property at the camps. FitzGerald has not operated the wilderness camps since at least 2018 and has held onto the property despite the lease ending in May 2019. He has not paid rent since the lease ended. Without FitzGerald, the Katahdin Lake area would not have been acquired by the park, according to a letter written by his wife and sent to park officials.

Maine House speaker touts clean energy in stop at former Loring Air Force Base

On a statewide tour highlighting Maine’s rising energy costs, Maine Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau touted clean energy as a solution to diversify the power grid. Fecteau, D-Biddeford, appeared at the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone Thursday, where he toured a set of municipal solar arrays that cover roughly 70% of the electricity needs of the town and magnet high school within it. “This is a great example of how communities can take charge and address energy challenges on their own,” Fecteau said. Retail electricity costs in Maine have risen nearly 80% in the last decade, owing to aging infrastructure and the destabilization of the global gas market in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and other conflicts.

Clynk files layoff notice for 54 workers at Biddeford facility

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 10, 2026

Clynk, the drop-off bottle and can redemption service, has filed a notice with the state indicating that it intends to lay off dozens of workers at a Biddeford facility. Count & Crush LLC, doing business as Clynk, filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN notice, on Wednesday that says it will lay off 54 employees working at 565 Elm St.

Opinion: America’s public lands are more than development acreage

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 10, 2026

For many who don’t own land or a camp on a lake or in the woods, public lands are their only gateway to nature. We trust the governments that hold these public lands to ensure they remain for public use and enjoyment. That trust is being tested. President Trump has issued orders that represent a significant shift in how the federal government manages public lands. His goals include expanding energy production, accelerating mineral and coal development and reducing safeguards for wilderness. Public lands are not simply real estate. They provide clean water, wildlife habitat, carbon storage, recreational opportunities and increasingly rare places where people can experience forests, rivers, mountains and solitude without having to own them. We are temporary beneficiaries of public lands, held in trust by our government. ~ Karin R. Tilberg, former president/CEO, Forest Society of Maine

PFAS from 2024 spill are showing up in Harpswell’s birds

HARPSWELL ANCHOR • September 10, 2026

Eider ducks and bald eagles that nest in and around Harpswell have levels of PFAS chemicals four to five times higher in birds within about 5 miles of Brunswick Landing compared to those sampled 40 miles away, following an August 2024 spill of firefighting foam on the former Brunswick Naval Air Station. Scientists from the Biodiversity Research Institute found themselves in a unique position after the spill, when 1,450 gallons of aqueous film-forming foam concentrate leftover from the U.S. Navy’s firefighting system mixed with 50,000 gallons of water entered streams and waterways that drain into Harpswell Cove. The institute’s researchers had been testing eider ducks in Casco Bay for mercury since about 2015.

Help Wanted: Executive Director, Kennebec Land Trust

MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • September 10, 2026

Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) is a nationally accredited land trust that has been conserving the natural and working lands of central Maine for more than 35 years. KLT is seeking an experienced, collaborative leader to serve as our next Executive Director. This is an opportunity to lead a respected conservation organization with a strong reputation, dedicated staff, an engaged Board of Directors, committed volunteers, and loyal members and supporters. Building on KLT's strong foundation, the next Executive Director will guide the organization through its next chapter by strengthening relationships, supporting staff, advancing fundraising efforts, and ensuring its long-term sustainability.

11 U.S. destinations that are even better after the summer crowds leave

YAHOO • September 10, 2026

Summer may be the busiest travel season, but it isn't always the most enjoyable one. Some destinations shine once temperatures cool and popular attractions become less crowded. If you have flexibility, waiting until September, October, or early November can make a noticeable difference. These are the places I'd choose once peak season begins winding down. 1. Acadia National Park, Maine Acadia's rocky coastline is beautiful all year, but early fall makes it easier to appreciate. Hiking Cadillac Mountain or walking the park's carriage roads is far more comfortable once the humid days of midsummer begin to fade and viewpoints are more accessible.

Letter: Ask the Big E to cancel partisan exhibit

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 10, 2026

The Eastern States Exposition (The Big E in West Springfield, Massachusetts), is the state fair for all six New England states. One of President Trump’s Freedom 250 trucks — with a partisan exhibit of American history — will be coming from Sept. 18 through Oct. 4. Trump has transferred $10 million taxpayer dollars away from America 250 to fund his Freedom 250 trucks, a history exhibit not sanctioned by non-partisan historians. Trump’s exhibit has been organized by PragerU, an Oklahoma-based conservative educational organization, and by Hillsdale College, a Michigan-based Christian school. ~ David & Eileen Pratt, Springfield, Mass.

Rec Rangers build bridges, blaze trails across western Maine

RANGELEY HIGHLANDER • September 10, 2026

From new aluminum bridges at Mosher Hill Falls to hundreds of feet of rebuilt bog bridging, a seasonal trail crew spent the summer improving outdoor recreation sites across western Maine. The Rec Ranger program, led by High Peaks Alliance, uses a full-time seasonal crew to complete trail maintenance and public-access projects for High Peaks Alliance, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust and Maine Huts & Trails. The 2026 crew worked for 12 weeks, with each organization receiving about three weeks of dedicated trail work. The crew improved more than 17 miles of trails, rehabilitated about 940 feet of bog bridging, installed or repaired multiple bridges and footbridges, built a stone staircase, installed a kiosk and roadside signs and created new trail connections.

Androscoggin River Watershed Council lists events

SUN JOURNAL • September 10, 2026

Androscoggin River Watershed Council invites the public to the following informative events.

• “Improving Fish Passage at the Brunswick Dam – What Is Possible?” will be held at Morrell Meeting Room, Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant St. in Brunswick, on Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 5-6:30 p.m. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

• The next presentation is “Shoreline Stabilization – Designing with Nature.” It will be held at Taylor Pond Yacht Club, Yacht Club Drive in Auburn, Tuesday, Sept. 29, from  9-11 a.m.

• The council is also planning a fall Adventure Paddle on the Androscoggin River through downtown Lewiston-Auburn. Tentatively planned for later in September, this outing will be a chance to explore the river and enjoy the changing season while experiencing the heart of the Twin Cities from the water with fellow paddlers.

Local farm stands offer the best of summer and fall

CENTRAL MAINE • September 10, 2026

September brings one of the widest selections of the year to local farm stands, when tomatoes, cucumbers and corn overlap with apples, pumpkins, winter squash and cider. Across Jay, Livermore, Livermore Falls and Chesterville, shoppers can find everything from small roadside stands to established farm stores carrying produce, meat, eggs, dairy products, baked goods and maple products.

Hannaford supermarkets no longer selling Lisbon-based Springworks Farm products

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 10, 2026

Springworks Farm in Lisbon is no longer supplying Hannaford supermarkets with any of its products, raising questions about the status of one of the largest certified organic aquaponic producers of lettuce in New England. Springworks Farm stopped providing products to Hannaford recently. In addition, the farm sold products to Whole Foods, Roche Bros. Supermarkets, Food City, Sysco of Northern New England, Lisbon K-12 schools, and other local institutions. The phone for the farm has been disconnected and emails to employees seeking confirmation have gone unanswered. No trucks or vehicles were at the farm Wednesday.

Maine’s Tradition of Public Access: A Privilege, Not a Right

NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL OF MAINE • September 9, 2026

Many across the state have become concerned about reports of trails closing or access to lands that were historically available being blocked. A new report released in 2026 details strategies for how the state can work with landowners and others to protect this rich tradition of public access. Maine has less land in public ownership than our neighbors; 92% of the state is in private hands. But Mainers and visitors have long enjoyed fishing, hunting, and hiking in nearly half of that area—about 10 million acres. This enduring tradition of landowners allowing the public to travel and recreate on their private land is reflective of the state’s implied permission laws: if a property isn’t posted, it is implied that the landowner has allowed public access. This access, however, has always been a privilege, not a right.

Portland unveils draft plan for redesigning one of the city's busiest corridors

MAINE PUBLIC • September 9, 2026

The city Portland has a new draft plan for redesigning Franklin Street, a major corridor that connects Interstate 295 with downtown. The plan calls for the removal of the large, grassy median that divides four lanes of traffic. Kevin Kraft, the city's planning and urban development director, said that will open more space for sidewalks, bike lanes and some on-street parking. "We've reduced the road widths, reduced the lane widths down to the most acceptable levels and shortened intersection crossings significantly," Kraft said. The goal is to create more of an urban street, rather than a highway. "A place where you actually feel comfortable walking and crossing the street, a place where you don't have to dart across hundreds of feet of travel lanes like you do today — at unsignalized intersections."

The winners and losers of Maine’s race to armor its shoreline against climate change

MAINE MORNING STAR • September 9, 2026

Maine’s construction aggregate industry is booming, thanks at least in part to climate change, as property owners erect or repair stone walls to protect against sea level rise, flooding and erosion. The number of permits to develop new quarries have more than tripled in Maine over the past five years compared to the prior decade. After a trio of destructive winter storms inundated the central Maine foothills and slammed into the coast two years ago — illuminating the state’s vulnerability to similar climate change-fueled storms — the number of permit applications for seawall projects skyrocketed, expedited by an emergency permitting provision in state statute and a slew of federal disaster funds.

Maine releases first fall foliage report of 2026

WABI-TV5 • September 9, 2026

Maine’s first fall foliage report of 2026 was released Wednesday afternoon. The state is currently at less than 10% color change, which experts say is typical for early September. The colors will progress from north to south. Northern Maine typically reaches peak conditions the last week of September into the first week of October. The rest of the state will follow, with southern Maine expected to peak in mid- to late October.