Opinion: Great American Outdoors Act a stunning bipartisan achievement

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 8, 2020

U.S. Reps. Jared Golden and Chellie Pingree have been fierce advocates for public lands, here in Maine and across the nation. It was due largely to their work that Congress recently passed the Great American Outdoors Act, which has accomplished two important objectives for nature and nature-lovers alike. First, it addresses the $12 billion maintenance backlog in our National Park System, and second, it permanently and fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund. In Maine alone, the LWCF has invested $191.6 million in projects across the state. The Great American Outdoors Act is a stunning bipartisan piece of legislation that is a win for everyone, everywhere on all counts:  It preserves and expands the public lands; it supports our economy; it provides jobs for American workers. ~ Sen. Everett “Brownie” Carson, Harpswell

How a Maine town staved off developers and turned a lighthouse into a tourist hot spot

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 7, 2020

Even if you’ve never been there yourself, you’ve probably seen Marshall Point Lighthouse, with its white stone tower, protruding wooden walkway and its rocky surroundings that slowly give way to the sea. The lighthouse was featured in the film “Forrest Gump,” used in countless advertisements, and you seemingly can’t pick up a Maine-themed calendar without seeing a month dedicated to it. But the ability for the public to access this pristine property today is all thanks to the efforts of a group of locals who banded together in the 1980s to save the site from potential development. In the years since, the keeper’s house has been restored to its original glory and is home to the Marshall Point Lighthouse Museum, which attracted a record 19,000 visitors last year and is celebrating its 30th anniversary this summer.

Opinion: Climate change, a deadly crisis, accelerates amid pandemic

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 7, 2020

We are facing two crises. Both are deadly. Both are worldwide. On the climate side, the extreme heat and lightning-lit wildfires in California and the unusually numerous Atlantic hurricanes are starters. Both the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change require action. However, U.S. government action has been sadly lacking, so now the U.S. tops the world in per capita cases and is near the top in per capita deaths from COVID. Maine’s climate actions, currently being considered by the Climate Council will be designed to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions over the next few decades. But unless Congress and the president take similar action for the nation, and unless such action is quickly extended worldwide, we can expect more deadly news. Fortunately, there is a bill in Congress, the bipartisan Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividends Act, that incorporates a solution to climate change. ~ Peter Garrett, Winslow, Maine state coordinator, Citizens Climate Lobby

Proposed development moratorium sparks tree debate in South Portland

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 7, 2020

The South Portland City Council is considering a controversial six-month development moratorium, spurred by two multifamily housing proposals on wooded parcels that threaten to destroy hundreds of trees. One proposal is a 13-unit condominium on Surfsite Road, near Willard Beach and Southern Maine Community College. The other is a 12-unit apartment complex at Evans and Hill streets. Both have preliminary Planning Board approval. City leaders are responding to development pressure that coincides with a growing desire to preserve the city’s dwindling green spaces, in keeping with recently updated climate action and open space plans.

New England clammers press through pandemic

ASSOCIATED PRESS • September 7, 2020

For New England’s vanishing commercial clam harvesters, the coronavirus pandemic represents only the most recent in a string of setbacks that have held down the centuries-old industry. The clamdiggers, who pull softshell clams for use in chowders and clambakes from tidal muck, have weathered an aging workforce, relentless predators that eat shellfish, warming waters and fickle markets. This summer’s pandemic has held back few of the clamdiggers from plying their trade in the coastal clam flats that have fed their customers for generations. But some clammers said the disruption wrought by the pandemic has still created yet another difficulty to deal with.

Maine lobsterman who doesn’t have internet is now a rising star on YouTube

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 6, 2020

Over the course of his long career spent hauling up lobster, fishing for scallops, raking mussels and digging for clams off the coast of Stonington, Leroy Weed has seen it all. And yet, Weed, 79, says the ocean still holds plenty of surprises for him — even after 70 years out on the water. This summer, the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries wanted to make sure Weed still had a chance to connect with people who want to learn more about Maine’s coastal waters and working waterfronts. They approached him with a novel idea — to star in a weekly series of YouTube videos called “Ask Leroy!”, in which people call (224-58-LEROY) or email with questions, and Weed answers them. “I don’t have an internet,” he said. “I still use a rotary phone. I don’t care about that kind of thing. If it makes people happy, then I’m happy.”

Farmers markets are faring well during the pandemic

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • September 6, 2020

While farmers who sell at markets around the state are seeing a lot of new faces across the mountains of zucchini and greens, in most cases the number of customers is down. But sales are up because shoppers are buying more meat and produce from fewer vendors. Adding to the trend of bountiful sales is the fact that homebound shoppers are stocking their fridges and pantries more fully but may not be comfortable buying food at a grocery store.

An artist paints the coast of Maine, one island at a time

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • September 6, 2020

Since early spring, Matthew Russ, a plein air painter from Waterville, has been visiting Maine islands as part of a yearlong artistic journey that will take him to 20 of the nearly 250 wild islands that are part of the Maine Island Trail Association network that stretches from Kittery in southern Maine to Cobscook Bay in Washington County. As part of an ambitious painting initiative called “Project 20/20: An Artist’s Journey on the Maine Island Trail,” Russ, 46, will make a 20-inch square painting at each of the islands he visits with proceeds from the sale of those paintings benefiting the trail association.

These women prefer to go it alone on the trails

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • September 6, 2020

Some among Maine’s intrepid tribe of women solo backpackers and campers say they enjoy being alone in the wilderness because it’s their only chance to escape the high-tech, cell-phone-dominated world. Others say it’s the best way to totally commune with nature. Some just like the time alone amid the beauty and peace of the outdoors.

Column: It’s a big payoff at the top of Big Spencer Mountain

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • September 6, 2020

Big Spencer Mountain is reached by a 1.8-mile hike from the north over a trail that gains a healthy 1,850 feet, well over half of that in the final 0.7 miles beyond the old fire warden cabin site. Rock staircases and a number of wooden ladders aid in the ascent of the eroded trail. But the payoff is big once you break treeline. Twenty years ago, the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands established a system of ecological reserves to protect and monitor a cross-section of natural habitats around the state, which today totals 96,400 acres. Lands in ecological reserve owned by The Nature Conservancy, the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife add another 112,000 acres. ~ Carey Kish

Column: Place those window decals properly to prevent bird strikes

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • September 6, 2020

Cats are the No. 1 source of human-caused mortality in birds at an estimated four billion birds per year in the United States alone. The No. 2 cause is birds striking windows, with an estimated 365 to 988 million birds dying annually in the United States. One of the best ways to keep birds from hitting windows is to put a sticker or decal on the outside to break up the reflective pattern on it. ~ Doug Hitchcox, Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist

Column: Chances are good for an any-deer permit, but can they be better?

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • September 6, 2020

With the state giving out nearly 110,000 deer permits this year, your odds of getting an any-deer permit should be a whole lot better, though there are never any guarantees. If you find yourself among the unfortunate, there’s still hope. Any-deer, junior, landowner, bonus deer, or superpack deer permits can be transferred to another hunter, resident to resident and nonresident to nonresident only. And you have until Oct. 26 to make the transfer so you can wait until after the Youth Deer Day to decide if you want to transfer yours to an unsuccessful youngster. ~ Bob Humphrey

Insight: Climate crisis not getting a wartime response

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • September 6, 2020

This is what passes for bold action today to confront the mounting crisis of climate change: Stakeholder advocacy. Years and years of delay. Analysis paralysis. The region’s slow-motion response made me think back to another crisis and another major energy project, this one built across western Maine roughly 80 years ago. World War II was an immediate crisis. German Navy ships were disrupting crucial oil tanker deliveries to Canadian refineries in Montreal. The answer was to build an underground pipeline from the secure harbor in Portland to Montreal, 236 miles away on an emergency schedule, in record time. It’s hard to imagine such a response today. ~ Tux Turkel

Opinion: Hospitality, tourism businesses have been heroes in COVID crisis

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • September 6, 2020

As we break over this Labor Day weekend, in this most abnormal of all summers, let’s take a few moments to thank the tens of thousands of men and women who work in Maine’s hospitality and tourism industry for keeping our residents and visitors safe. Maine’s infection rates would not be nearly as low without the stalwart efforts of Maine’s largest private sector industry. This is the greatest untold story of our summer of discontent. Hospitality professionals are the unsung heroes of Maine’s COVID summer of 2020. ~ Steve Hewins, HospitalityMaine

Letter: Carbon pricing key to climate action

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • September 6, 2020

The Maine Climate Council is currently accepting comments on a draft Climate Action Plan. It may be that the highest-leveraged action would be simply to speak up for carbon pricing. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has made it clear that the most effective first step for countries to control climate change is to price carbon. Markets are much more powerful than regulations in creating change. Citizens Climate Lobby would like the Climate Council to co-sign a resolution, with the Legislature and governor, and present it to our members of Congress. ~ Wes Tator, Kittery

Letter: Ackley fought hard against CMP

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • September 6, 2020

As a volunteer who dedicated countless hours last winter to collecting signatures to stop Central Maine Power’s destructive corridor project, I greatly appreciate the work of my state representative, Kent Ackley, to stop Hydro-Quebec, a company owned by a foreign government, from meddling in our election. I also appreciate his willingness to speak out about CMP’s shady practices. It’s clear that Rep. Ackley gets it, which is why we need to elect more legislators like him this fall. CMP can’t continue to treat their customers this way, and they can’t be allowed to steamroll their customers to make billions off of Massachusetts. ~ Josephine Stevens, Monmouth

Common Ground Fair virtual schedule released

TURNER PUBLISHING • September 5, 2020

The schedule for the Common Ground Country Fair, which will be held online this year, has been released. The fair will take place Sept. 25 to 27. The schedule of live presentations offers three full days of content related to gardening, farming and sustainable living. An online marketplace of fair vendors will also run from Sept. 25 through Jan. 8, and offers shoppers the opportunity to support local businesses that would typically participate at the fair, including farmers, crafters, nonprofit educational organizations and more.

Cheapest Labor Day gas prices in 16 years cast pall over oil industry

BLOOMBERG • Bloomberg 5, 2020

U.S. drivers can look forward to cheap gasoline this Labor Day Weekend, spelling hard times ahead for an oil industry that’s already been clobbered by the coronavirus. Gasoline prices on average this year are $2.22 per gallon, the lowest for this time of year since 2004. The lower margins make it difficult to turn a profit and may prompt refineries shuttered along the U.S. Gulf Coast ahead of Hurricane Laura to remain in repose.

Wales land opens ‘world of possibilities’ for Somali Bantu farmers

SUN JOURNAL • September 5, 2020

A successful harvest is reason enough for Liberation Farms to celebrate, but a wildly successful crowdfunding campaign that will help the community farming program purchase a 104-acre farm in Wales will make the fruits of their labor seem extra sweet for central Maine Somali Bantus. The Somali Bantu Community Association has raised the last $367,000 needed to purchase the organic farm for $430,000 by the end of September and expand its Liberation Farms program that helps members support themselves or sell locally through sustainable farming. It will also serve as a cultural center and community gathering spot for Bantu refugees from Somalia, a group with about 3,000 members in the Lewiston-Auburn area.

Ricker Hill Orchards taking steps to protect apple pickers from COVID-19

SUN JOURNAL • September 5, 2020

Apples are a family business for Jeff Timberlake, whose family has owned Ricker Hill Orchards in Turner since 1803. This season, the family is taking steps to protect apple pickers during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the 2020 season, you will see more sanitizing stations throughout the farm. Timberlake has hired extra staff to help disinfect. There will be no bounce houses for the kids, and activity areas are more spread out. In peak season, Ricker Hill sees more than one thousand visitors a day, many crowding the store to order the very popular donuts, but now only about 15 people will be allowed in at a time.