Fields Pond Update: Youth activities were highlights for June

MAINE AUDUBON • July 3, 2023

In June, more than a dozen youth between the ages of 17 and 23 who are part of the WaYS (Wabanaki Youth In Science) Ancestral Lands Trail Crew camped out at the Fields Pond Audubon Center for a week of training prior to their summer work in Northern and Downeast Maine. The program participants will be doing trail work projects this summer in Acadia National Park, Katahdin Woods and Waters, Downeast Coastal Conservancy, and Maine Coast Heritage Trust. While at Fields Pond, the WaYS crew learned new trail maintenance skills and participated in a wilderness first aid course.

Column: Biking Maine’s trails is better exercise than running

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 3, 2023

Cycling is one of my favorite activities and a primary source of aerobic exercise. The older I get, the more I enjoy it. I was a runner for almost 40 years, but a knee replacement compelled me to quit. The knee guy said, “If you keep running, you’ll be back for another one.” A certified sissy, I’m not suffering that very painful rehabilitation again if I can avoid it. The clever folks at Harvard Medical School say cycling is excellent for the heart, brain, blood vessels, muscles, balance and bone density. Here in Maine, we only have a handful of true bike trails that allow for a decent ride. Many riders consider a 10-mile round trip to be the minimum acceptable distance. The vast majority of our scenic country roads lack a safe shoulder for bike travel. The good news is that things are improving. Two great trail rides in southern Maine are two sections of the Eastern Trail. The northern sector from Scarborough to Saco is eight miles one way, while the southern ride between Biddeford and Kennebunk is six miles. ~ Ron Chase

Janet Mills and lawmakers are negotiating over offshore wind labor rules

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 3, 2023

Gov. Janet Mills’ veto of a bill aiming to jumpstart Maine’s offshore wind industry has pushed her and Democratic lawmakers to try to negotiate a compromise over thorny labor standards. It has gained national attention in part because the governor’s stance is at odds with President Joe Biden’s general pledge that unions will be at the center of the growing clean-energy sector. If the sides do not make a deal, Maine’s place in the industry could be at risk.

Boat explodes on Thomas Pond in Raymond

CBS 13 • July 3, 2023

Five people were rescued Saturday after their boat exploded on Thomas Pond in Raymond. The group, all of whom were from out of state, had just gotten onto their boat minutes before the explosion, which Raymond fire officials said was likely caused by leaking fuel. The five people on board jumped out and were helped to shore by bystanders. Other people on jet skis helped put out the fire on the boat. Those five people only suffered minor burns.

The Tom’s Of Maine Incubator Supports BIPOC Environmentalists

FORBES • July 3, 2023

Tom’s of Maine started with a $5,000 loan. This is why the popular natural personal care product brand is paying it forward by supporting the next generation of young change makers. The Tom’s of Maine Incubator offers financial and professional support to five young BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, People of Color] environmentalists in order to elevate their visions and help them scale solutions that will benefit people and the planet. Their projects span from ocean and river conservation, to creating green spaces, to engaging other BIPOC voices to become involved in environmental efforts.

A federal program that's helped protect Maine forests reaches milestone with new project

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 3, 2023

In May, the state completed the purchase of a 6,578-acre parcel near Mt. Abraham known as Perham Stream that was previously managed by a timber company, so that it could be put into conservation. Not far away, another 7,062 acres around the Quill Hill recreation area was put into a conservation easement. Much of the land will remain open to logging. What helped seal the deal to conserve both the Quill Hill and Perham Stream parcels was the federal Forest Legacy Program, which kicked in $7 million. The goal of FLP is to conserve privately owned land, and it’s had an especially big impact in Maine, accounting for a quarter of its total acreage. And there’s more on the horizon. Betsy Cook, of the Trust for Public Land, says another 3,600 acres next to the Quill Hill parcel is slated for protection through FLP.

Honeybee deaths rose last year. Here's why farmers would go bust without bees

NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO • July 3, 2023

If you like to eat blueberries, apples, almonds, and other fruits that require pollination, you can thank a honeybee. Farmers could not grow these crops without the essential service bees provide. Across the country bees have been disappearing from their hives. A new survey of beekeepers finds bees are still struggling. "Over the entire year, we estimate that beekeepers lost 48.2 % of their colonies," says Dan Aurell, a researcher at Auburn University's bee lab.

Opinion: Next generation of Mainers desperately needs a climate budget

MORNING SENTINEL • June 3, 2023

In this hot, rapidly changing world, it is critical that our state budget meet the needs of the climate crisis and support our precious natural resources. Our environment and future generations depend on it. Will the Maine of our future continue to be a safe haven from the climate crisis, with cold flowing rivers and cool ocean breezes, or will the state be improperly developed and unprepared for climate disasters because of the chronic underfunding of natural resource agencies? Legislators have a chance to address by passing and funding L.D. 1854 to update the compensation plan for classified state employees — helping close the pay gap and ensure that we can fully staff vital state agencies. This important study has been incorporated into the proposed state budget, and lawmakers should support it. ~ Amara Ifeji, youth representative to the Maine Climate Council and director of policy at Maine Environmental Education Association; Ania Wright, legislative and political specialist with Sierra Club Maine

Letter: More info about sturgeon to keep in mind

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 3, 2023

The BDN editorial on June 29 stated “That is the real life story of sturgeon, a fish that is making a resurgence in Maine.” “A fish” is really two species, the larger Atlantic sturgeon and the smaller shortnose sturgeon. Large sturgeon observed leaping clear of the water are mostly Atlantic sturgeon. But keep in mind, the Atlantic sturgeon is “threatened” in Gulf of Maine waters and “endangered” in waters farther south along the Atlantic coast. The shortnose sturgeon is “endangered” throughout its range from eastern Canada to Florida. It is unlawful to fish for, take or possess any sturgeon, either Atlantic or shortnose in Maine waters. Any sturgeon incidentally caught must be released immediately alive and uninjured. ~ James McCleave, Orono

10 states plan to sue EPA over standards for residential wood-burning stoves

ASSOCIATED PRESS • July 2, 2023

Attorneys general from 10 states, not including Maine, plan to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, saying its failure to review and ensure emissions standards for residential wood-burning stoves has allowed the continued sale of appliances that could worsen pollution.

Mills signs bill to protect Maine’s loon population from painted lead fishing tackle

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • July 2, 2023

Gov. Janet Mills has signed a bill into law that seeks to protect Maine’s loon population by phasing out the use and sale of certain small, painted lead fishing jigs. One of Maine’s most beloved wildlife species, loons are threatened by the use of painted lead fishing tackle, which Mills and experts have said can kill loons and other waterfowl. “Death by lead poisoning is avoidable,” says Francesca Gundrum, policy advocate with Maine Audubon, a group focused on wildlife and wildlife habitat conservation. “This new law will help put a stop to needless suffering for this beloved Maine species.”

Massachusetts woman killed in ATV crash Saturday

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 2, 2023

Abigail Divoll, 25, of Royalston, Massachusetts was a passenger in a side-by-side ATV in Coplin Plantation driven by Matthew Tolman, 26, of Hubbardstown, Massachusetts when Tolman drove into a washed-out portion of the trail they were riding on and lost control of the vehicle. Divoll was killed in the crash, and Tolman was thrown from the vehicle and suffered a serious head injury. Neither Divoll nor Tolman was wearing a helmet, and it appears that speed and alcohol may have been factors in the crash. Following one of the rainiest Junes in recent memory, some off-road vehicle trails are in poor shape. Clubs have been asked to temporarily close trails.

Protection of Kennebago headwaters in jeopardy

MAINE MONITOR • July 2, 2023

Plans to protect more than 10,000 acres of watershed in Franklin County, called the Kennebago Headwaters project, are in jeopardy over a legal question regarding whether the public has a guaranteed right to access the property. State officials said they want to ensure the public’s investment is protected, and are considering asking Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust to return the money if public access is ever lost. But promising to repay nearly $2 million — however unlikely that would be — would be a nonstarter, said Dick Spencer, a co-founder of the Trust, who now serves as the nonprofit’s attorney, adding that he would advise the nonprofit’s board to kill the project rather than agree to repay the money. Land for Maine’s Future Board Member Catherine Robbins-Halsted said, “We want to be careful because this could set a precedent.”

Federal officials find nearly three dozen violations at Thomaston cement company

MAINE MONITOR • July 2, 2023

Federal mine safety officials found 33 violations at the Dragon Products cement company in Thomaston during an inspection in May, the latest in a string of violations that have led to tens of thousands of dollars in fines over the past several years, federal records show. Dragon Products has been fined more than $360,000 since 2020 for mine safety and health violations.

Heavy June rains dampen outlook for Maine’s harvest later this year

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • July 2, 2023

Drenched fields this summer are leaving Maine farmers floundering to catch up with yearly production expectations. With heavy rainfall and low temperatures, agricultural production has taken a hit early this season, and some summer staple crops  are paying the price. The Portland area saw 23 days of rain last month, totaling 5.68 inches and making it the rainiest June since 2015. The average high temperature was only 68.7 degrees, 5 degrees below the normal level. The combination of conditions created a double whammy for Maine’s farmers.

Vacation rentals slow in Maine, pushing down prices for summer travelers

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • July 2, 2023

Bookings for short-term rentals have slowed across Maine. There are several reasons: an unusually rainy June, renewed competition for travelers, especially overseas, a labor shortage, a decline in travelers from Asia and Europe, who are dissuaded by news reports about mass shootings and the instability of the U.S. economy. “Acadia is huge,” said Tom Blake of Blake’s Airbnb rental in South Portland,. “About 30% of our guests are going to or coming from Acadia. I think without Acadia [National Park], tourism in Portland would be down greatly.”

Rain delays the start of the summer rush for Maine’s seasonal businesses

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • July 2, 2023

The 23 days of rain this month – and even the suggestion of it in the forecast – have delayed the onslaught of summer crowds at state parks and seafood shacks. For many weather-dependent businesses, from rooftop bars to water taxis, it represents a significant loss in an already short window to make money. Out of the $8.6 billion that visitors spent in the state last year, $5.1 billion was in May through August, according to the Maine Office of Tourism.

Column: A hiker’s guide to climbing Katahdin

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • July 2, 2023

For thousands each year, a hike to the panoramic summit of Katahdin is a pilgrimage, a regular goal for some, a once-in-a-lifetime challenge for others, and for northbound thru-hikers of the Appalachian Trail, it’s the culmination of a 2,192-mile journey from Springer Mountain, Georgia. The perennial allure of “K’taadn,” Maine’s “Greatest Mountain” for hikers from near and far is understandably real. Proper advance planning and preparation are essential for a safe and enjoyable Katahdin climb. Fortunately, Baxter State Park offers a wealth of helpful hiker information at baxterstatepark.org. Friends of Baxter State Park is also a good reference. Pore thoroughly through each website and take good notes. ~ Carey Kish

Letter: Try planting trees to help the planet

MORNING SENTINEL • July 2, 2023

“A World Without Ice,” by author Henry Pollack, Ph.D. shows all forms of life dependent on H2O are facing a future of (at present) water supplies steadily being mucked up, sucked up and obliterated, chiefly by our human race and at increasing speed. His book is very much worth your reading, your comprehension and your action in support of our planet. Then go out and start planting trees. Arbor Day Foundation will give you a good start. ~ John Holt Willey, Waterville

Striking Maine gold: Prospectors say they live for the ‘thrill of discovery’

SUN JOURNAL • July 2, 2023

Maine has some of the purest gold in the world hidden in the sediment of its streams. But local enthusiasts say that unlike operations out West, prospecting in the Pine Tree State isn’t about making money – the gold is pure, but there isn’t enough of it. “It’s just the thrill of discovery,” said Darin Thomason of Winthrop, president of Central Maine Gold Prospectors. “I don’t think you could find one person that would ever sell the gold (if they found it).” While finding gold in Maine can be tricky, interest in the hobby has grown over the last 10 to 15 years, partly in response to a growing number of prospecting shows like “Gold Rush” on the Discovery Channel.