Judge orders business to come up with $1.43M in lobster sales lawsuit

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 5, 2020

A federal judge has ordered the former owners of a wholesale lobster business and the Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound to set aside $1.43 million, which is the amount a lobstermen’s group is expected to be awarded in its lawsuit against members of the Pettegrow family. The Maine Lobstering Union in December sued the former CEO of its wholesale business and his parents in U.S. District Court in Bangor, alleging that the family defrauded and stole from the group after selling it their wholesale lobster business three years ago.

Letter: A clean energy corridor to keep enchantment lasting

DAILY BULLDOG • June 5, 2020

The comments of Ed Buzzell published in these pages last week might have misled readers on the real impacts of the Clean Energy Corridor project. Protecting Maine’s wildlife has always been a central concern of this project and, more recently, Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection added significant measures to mitigate the  project’s impact even further. ~ Serge Abergel, Director ‐ Media and External Relations, Hydro‐Québec

Besieged by Protesters Demanding Racial Justice, Trump Signs Order Waiving Environmental Safeguards

INSIDE CLIMATE NEWS • June x, 2020

With the nation convulsed by multiple crises, President Donald Trump returned to a favorite stand-by of his presidency—asserting his authority to sweep aside environmental restraints and speed up construction of oil and gas pipelines. But the executive order that he signed Thursday night—the third of his presidency aimed at expediting pipelines—is destined to spur more of the type of litigation that has rendered his previous directives ineffective so far.

The good, the bad, and the wild

CATCHING HEALTH • June 4, 2020

Three years ago, George Smith was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). From the get-go, he has tried to maintain a positive attitude, even as the disease has progressed throughout his body. In an interview in 2018, he vowed not to let ALS define the remaining years of his life. His outlook on life is a huge reason why he is a treasure, but not the only one. George is a champion of the Maine outdoors.

High Peaks Alliance names Brent West executive director

TURNER PUBLISHING • June 4, 2020

Brent West has been named executive director of the High Peaks Alliance, a nonprofit serving western Maine’s High Peaks region. West has spent the past year as a part-time consultant for the alliance. Originally from New Portland, West is a wildlife biologist with a passion for preserving public access to Maine’s wilderness. The High Peaks Alliance has a mission to ensure and enhance public recreational access and opportunities in Maine’s High Peaks region, which encompases 10 of the 14 largest mountains in Maine.

Michael Vermette selected as Allagash Wilderness Waterway Visiting Artist

TURNER PUBLISHING • June 4, 2020

Michael Vermette has been chosen as the Allagagash Wilderness Waterway Visiting Artist for 2020. Vermette, based in Old Town, is a full-time artist and part-time teacher. He holds a BFA in painting and has been painting in oil, watercolor and pastel for more than 45 years. He has won numerous awards, and his paintings are in private collections globally. Vermette will spend two weeks immersed in the Allagash beauty at the waterway’s Lock Dam Cabin. 

Jay board nixes solar power options

SUN JOURNAL • June 4, 2020

JAY — Selectpersons voted 3-2 Monday to not pursue solar power options for the town, Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere said Tuesday. A town solar committee had previously recommended the town put a request for proposals out for a purchase agreement. Some board members had concerns Monday about how long it would take the town to see a return on its investment and the benefit of owning versus leasing a solar array.

The shad are in. That doesn’t mean you’ll catch ’em

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 4, 2020

Last week, I saw the light. Honestly, I did. Thanks to a longtime angler with a boat and a plan (and plenty of accumulated knowledge), I learned that catching American shad was simple. Easy, even. Then, on Tuesday, I headed to my own home river to try out the lessons I’d learned from Willie Grenier. Caught bottom. Snarled my leader. Never caught a thing. Back to the drawing board.

Bangor’s new automated trash collection will start June 29

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 4, 2020

Bangor will make the switch to automated trash pickup later this month, and each Bangor household that receives curbside pickup will receive a new trash bin in the next two weeks. Following a move to “one bin, all in” trash pickup, with recyclable items being mixed in with the non-recyclable, Bangor last year also opted to use an automated side-load garbage truck.

Forest flowers and birds fill this quiet preserve in Gouldsboro

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 4, 2020

Frances B. Wood Preserve covers 438 acres in Gouldsboro, and is owned and maintained by the Frenchman Bay Conservancy. On the property is a hiking trail that travels through a mossy forest for 0.4 mile, then splits into a 0.75 mile loop at the edge of a bog. This loop travels over a small, forested hill, where you’ll find humps of exposed granite and beds of lichen.

Summer outside? Calls to preserve U.S. public lands after lockdown

REUTERS • June, 4 2020

With summer approaching and diversions like music festivals, cinemas and theme parks still largely off-limits, conservation groups are lobbying Congress for dedicated public lands funding, ahead of the coming surge of crowds to parks around the country.

Androscoggin Land Trust, Baxter Brewing to partner with Chamber for 2021 river race

SUN JOURNAL • June 1, 2020

For the last four years, the Androscoggin Land Trust has hosted the Canoe & Kayak River Race, its largest event of the year, and has scheduled it to coincide with the Great Falls Brewfest. The fifth annual river race was originally scheduled for June 27, 2020, but was postponed to 2021. The Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday it would partner with the Androscoggin Land Trust and Baxter Brewing to host the annual Canoe & Kayak River Race next year, to coincide with the Great Falls Brewfest.

New Lead Tackle Buy-back Program Helps Loons

MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • June 3, 2020

Lead poisoning is a leading cause of death for adult Common Loons in Maine. Maine Audubon and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are working with select retailers to provide $10 store vouchers to anglers who turn in at least one ounce of lead tackle at participating stores. Maine state law bans the use and sale of lead sinkers and lead-headed jigs weighing one ounce or less or measuring 2.5 inches or less.

Two Maine startups collaborate to get more Mainers outdoors

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 3, 2020

Bioenergy startup Tree Free Heat of Waterville has signed its first distribution deal with Back40, a Portland-based startup that operates an e-commerce site for outdoor gear rentals that can be delivered directly to campsites. The company said that hiking and camping gear rentals make it easier and less expensive to enjoy Maine’s outdoors, and that the new partnership gives consumers easy access to Tree Free Heat’s initial product offering: hemp stalk-based fire starters for campfires and cooking grills.

14-year-old prodigy gets master’s degree from Unity College

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 3, 2020

Dorothy Jean Tillman, a Chicago native, just received her master’s degree in sustainable science and environmental planning from Unity College. Now, she’s working on a book and a project to develop engineering labs for South African girls, and she’s pondering putting together a podcast. Tillman previously received her associate’s degree in psychology when she was almost 11 and her bachelor’s degree in humanities when she was just 12 years old.

Land trust releases new trail map

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 3, 2020

The South Portland Land Trust is releasing a new West End Trails map and brochure. According to the trust, the debut of the new map and brochure serves as the replacement for the land trust’s annual National Trails Day event, usually held on the first Saturday in June.

This Atlantic salmon has returned to the Penobscot more than once. Here’s why it’s special.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 3, 2020

Atlantic salmon are returning to the Penobscot River at a steady pace thus far. Fisheries staffers from the Maine Department of Marine Resources said the 176 salmon that have been counted thus far are the fifth most to have reached the counting facility by May 29 in the 42 years that salmon have been counted on the river. Among those fish was a rarity: A male that was making a return trip to the river to spawn.

Letter: Questions about Hydro-Quebec

SUN JOURNAL • June 3, 2020

I write in response to a letter from a Hydro-Quebec spokesman about the corridor project with Central Maine Power. It’s nice of them to finally show up. Since this power is already being sold to Massachusetts along existing lines, this isn’t new “clean” energy, and would have no impact on climate change. Why they have refused to appear to answer questions during the permitting process and before the Maine Legislature? Why is HQ, a company solely owned by the Canadian government, using a loophole in Maine’s campaign finance laws to funnel millions into a campaign to influence Maine voters? Finally, I would like HQ to say whether they think the people of Maine should have the right to vote on their for-profit project ~ Theresa York, Farmington

Opinion: Mainers, don’t get played by Trump’s visit, there’s work to do

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 3, 2020

As a government whistleblower, I admire people who speak up. Whether it’s understanding the climate crisis, addressing a pandemic, advocating for the Maine economy, or owning up to inequity and racism in our society, those who speak out, honestly and in good faith, are taking responsibility. Sadly, there is a dark, underground river of bad faith that has come to the surface, and it has made its way to Maine. Those of us who work on climate issues have seen decades of disinformation campaigns intended to sow doubt about climate change. As out-of-state money pours in to politicize mask-wearing and organize protests, it’s Mainers who are getting played. White supremacist actors are provoking violence during otherwise peaceful protests around the country. We should expect more of the same here. It will bring some of Maine’s racists out of the shadows. Mainers, these people are not looking out for your best interests. Do not be played any longer. ~ Joel Clement, Wayne