Over 18 acres lost to Monday afternoon blaze in Hartford

SUN JOURNAL • November 20, 2023

Over a dozen fire departments responded Monday afternoon to a fire on Davenport Road near Mountain View Drive which likely claimed around 18 acres of woods. Buckfield Fire crews were dispatched at 1:42 p.m. to 115 Davenport Road and were met by a landowner who did not want to allow crews access to the scene, but Oxford County Sheriff’s deputies were able to detain the homeowner and secure the scene in 10 to 15 minutes. The Sheriff’s Office did not identity the homeowner or say whether the person was arrested and charged.

Deer have built-in detection systems that make hunting a challeng

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 20, 2023

As most hunters are aware, Nature has blessed the whitetail deer with a danger detection system that is remarkably keen and effective. Experts differ on which of the big three, smell, hearing or vision, play the most prominent role in helping our November quarry steer clear of predators, humans among them. If you had to pick one from among the deer’s trifecta of danger-avoidance mechanisms, which would you choose?

Five picketers reportedly arrested outside Baileyville mill

MAINE PUBLIC • November 20, 2023

Striking workers at the Woodland Pulp mill in Baileyville say that five picketers were arrested on Monday. Dan Loudermilk, with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, says that local and county law enforcement arrived at the picket lines early on Monday and arrested five strikers, including four from Bath Iron Works Local S6. Loudermilk says the reasons for the arrests weren't immediately clear. Brendan Wolf, Woodland's director of human resources, says that he and other staff called law enforcement to report trucks being blocked by picketers. "People that were on the picket line weren't just walking, per their constitution rights. They were actually stopping and blocking vehicles.

Commerce report says Maine’s outdoor recreation economy grew 16.5% in 2022

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 20, 2023

Maine’s outdoor recreation economy grew by 16.5% from 2021 to 2022, according to a new report by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis. Collectively, outdoor recreation – which encompasses a variety of activities, including fishing, hunting, skiing and RVing – generated $3.3 billion in 2022. That’s nearly 4% of the state’s gross domestic product. Only five other states had higher percentages. Overall, the outdoor recreation industry supported approximately 32,000 jobs in 2022, a 7% increase over 2021. “Outdoor recreation is the heartbeat of our state’s economy,” said Jenny Kordick, executive director of Maine Outdoor Brands.

This is how far behind the world is on controlling planet-warming pollution

NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO • November 20, 2023

The hottest year on record is coming to a close, emissions of planet-warming gases are still rising globally, and the most ambitious climate goal set by world leaders is all but impossible to meet, according to a new analysis by the United Nations. The annual report from the U.N. Environment Programme lays out how far behind the world is on controlling planet-warming pollution, most of which comes from burning oil, gas and coal. Between 2021 and 2022, global greenhouse gas emissions grew about 1%, the analysis finds. Emissions need to fall as quickly as possible to avoid catastrophic climate impacts.

Maine’s summer tourist season was a mixed bag, with modest food and lodging gains

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 20, 2023

It was a good summer for some Maine businesses that rely on tourist dollars, but not so great for others that saw foot traffic diminish amid too many rainy weekends. Still, restaurant sales averaged $429 million per month in June, July and August – a 4.9% increase over the summer-month average in 2022, Maine Revenue Services reports. The $302 million monthly average for lodging sales during the same period increased a more modest 1.9% year over year. Meanwhile, the state is seeing a trend toward fewer day trippers, while people who choose to vacation here are staying longer.

Commentary: Maine can incentivize CMP, Versant to do the right thing

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 20, 2023

We deserve a 21st century grid to meet our goals outlined in Maine’s ambitious climate action plan “Maine Won’t Wait” and a future of a decarbonized, decentralized and democratized electrical grid that works for everyone. The urgency of climate change and the economic benefits of a clean energy economy necessitate swift and decisive action. Our regulatory structure is our means of local control; our immediate priority is to underscore the need to fully exercise that control through regulatory reforms that address ratepayer concerns. Enhanced performance-based ratemaking (PBR) can help us shape a utility sector that actively drives our climate goals forward while keeping costs as low as possible. ~ Rep. Gerry Runte (D-York), member of Maine Climate Council; Kay Aikin, Dynamic Grid, a Portland-based utility controls company; Rebecca Schultz, senior climate and clean energy advocate, Natural Resources Council of Maine

Letter: Maine Mall is the answer to PWM parking crunch

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 20, 2023

The plan to build new surface lots at the Portland International Jetport is a shortsighted. Today, most of these mall lots sit empty as the anchor stores struggle to stay put. Meanwhile, demand for jetport parking is at an all-time high. The most cost-effective – and environmentally friendly – solution would be for these two entities to work together and use the existing parking infrastructure. PWM could purchase a small fleet of shuttle buses that could complete the 2-mile trip at regular intervals, and even construct a small bus shelter for customers on the mall’s premises, all for much less cost than excavating a wooded area and paving it over with new asphalt. ~ Scott Whiting, Biddeford

Senator Angus King asks federal government to consider mass timber in construction projects

MAINE PUBLIC • November 19, 2023

Senator Angus King is asking the General Services Administration to integrate mass timber into the procurement process for the construction and renovation of federal buildings. Mass timber is engineered in layers, and King and other senators say the move would reduce the carbon footprint of federal buildings as well as reduce construction costs. Pat Straugh, Executive Director of the Maine Forest Products Council, said, "I would say that what Angus is helping us to do is build the market and demand so we can get over the top and draw investment in Maine.

Column: Do birds have a poor sense of smell? Not all of them

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 19, 2023

We know that birds have remarkable vision and hearing. However, the received wisdom from ornithology texts is that birds have a poor sense of smell. This claim is based in part on the rather unimpressive size of the olfactory lobes of a bird’s brain. There are a few groups of birds that do have remarkable senses of smell, including albatross, petrel, turkey vulture, chickadees. ~ Herb Wilson

Column: Want to converse with hunters? Know their language

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 19, 2023

This installment is intended mainly for non-hunters who wish to communicate more effectively with hunters, or new deer hunters who don’t want to make their status too obvious. Let’s start with the basics. One does not catch a deer, or a duck or a turkey.. Acceptable terms include: get, shoot, kill, bag or harvest. A male deer is a buck, a female, a doe. A young deer, less than 1, is a fawn. Only bucks (note: the plural for both sexes includes an “s”) sport antlers, which hunters sometimes refer to as horns. Technically, they’re not horns; let it go. Don’t ask, “Did you get your deer yet?” That’s a bit of an inside joke among deer hunters and a sure tip-off you are not one. ~ Bob Humphrey

Column: Island hopping from Kittery to Acadia

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 19, 2023

Among the Maine coast are 2,400 islands. Here’s a look at seven of those island gems that are easily accessible year-round and feature nice hiking trails and lots of scenic, salty beauty.
• Kittery - The Cutts Island Trail meanders for nearly 2 miles through the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge.
• Biddeford - Timber Island is accessible by a gravel bar at low tide from Timber Point. Follow the universal trail 1.4 miles to an observation platform at the point’s end.
• Falmouth - A “sanctuary for wild beasts and birds,” a popular 1.5-mile trail loops around Mackworth Island.
• Georgetown - The Billie Todd Loop and Lichen Loop wind for 1.2 miles over the pretty peak of Higgins Mountain.
• Harpswell - The Devil’s Back Trails on Orr’s Island have a 2.5-mile system that threads a scenic route along Long Cove to the west and Gun Point Cove to the east.
• Verona - A 1-mile loop leads through fields and woods to lovely water views at the 25-acre Joost Family Preserve.
• Mount Desert Island - Maine’s largest island is home to a 31,000-acre chunk of Acadia National Park, 150 miles of trails, and some of the most spectacular coastal scenery anywhere on the planet.

New wastewater plan makes a splash in Lewiston and Auburn

SUN JOURNAL • November 19, 2023

When heavy rainfall overwhelms Lewiston-Auburn’s wastewater system, there’s only one place to relieve the pressure: the Androscoggin River. Last year, 52 million gallons of untreated, diluted sewage went into the river. Despite years of trying to separate the Twin Cities’ stormwater and sewerage systems to address the issue, in some places the systems remain combined. For that reason, heavy rain events — which are expected to be more frequent with climate change — can add millions of gallons of unintended rainwater to the treatment plant’s load, overwhelming the cities’ wastewater facilities. The Lewiston-Auburn Water Pollution Control Authority has determined the site of a large holding tank that will collect sewage and stormwater overflow during heavy rainfall to help prevent it from going into the Androscoggin River.

Ecomaine gets $2 million grant to promote recycling among residents of multifamily homes

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 18, 2023

Ecomaine, a Portland recycling and waste-to-energy facility that serves 74 communities, has received a $2 million federal grant to promote recycling among apartment dwellers and residents of other multifamily homes in Maine. The grant from the Environmental Protection Agency will support Ecomaine’s “effort to increase Maine’s recycling rate through outreach to residents of multifamily dwelling units.”

Low water levels at upper portion of Lewiston Falls due to vandalism

SUN JOURNAL • November 18, 2023

Rubber bladders designed to alter water levels at the Lewiston Falls dam were vandalized in early October. Brookfield White Pine Hydro is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the vandals. Brookfield has since increased security by adding razor wire, metal mesh, additional cameras and additional security patrols. A temporary flashboard system has since been installed which will keep levels at about 6 inches lower than normal.

Unity adopts moratorium on high-voltage power lines as it codifies opposition to power corridor

MORNING SENTINEL • November 17, 2023

Residents voted at a special town meeting Thursday to adopt a 180-day moratorium on high-voltage power lines in town, making Unity the latest to codify its opposition to a proposed transmission corridor expected to cost in excess of $1 billion. The vote was unanimous among the roughly 45 residents at the meeting. Ten other towns have taken similar steps. LS Power, a Missouri-based utility, plans to connect energy generated by wind farms in Aroostook County with consumers in southern Maine and Massachusetts. The project would require a transmission corridor extending approximately 150 miles into central Maine. Residents are concerned that the power lines would decrease property values and fracture areas by cutting through farmland and forests.

At talks on cutting plastics pollution, plastic credits are on the table. What are they?

ASSOCIATED PRESS • November 17, 2023

Two groups that want reduced plastics production published a report Friday highly critical of plastic credits, calling them a flawed tool that won’t help with worldwide pollution from the material. The groups – Break Free From Plastic and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives – said the credits often amount to corporate greenwashing.

USDA plant hardiness map shows a warming Maine

MAINE PUBLIC • November 17, 2023

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday issued its new plant hardiness map for farmers and gardeners, and it reflects a warming climate. It had not been updated for 11 years. State horticulturist Gary Fish says the map confirms the warming trends that growers have observed, and will allow some plants to thrive in new areas. "There's a lot of things that you can grow in some parts of Maine, like peaches and cherries and even paw paws, and those will be more easily grown and not winter-killed as often further inland in Maine," he says. But Fish says the warmer temperatures are also allowing invasive species, such as the hemlock wooly adelgid, to expand their ranges.

Add these 5 hikes to your list of places where hunting isn’t allowed

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 17, 2023

Throughout November and into December, I make sure to wear plenty of bright colors while sharing the outdoors with the state’s many hunters. I also understand the peace of mind that comes with hiking on properties that are off-limits to hunting during this time of year. Here are some hiking locations that are closed to hunting, scattered throughout Maine:

• Acadia National Park
• Holbrook Island Sanctuary State Park in Brooksville
• Rolland F. Perry City Forest in Bangor
• a good portion of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument near Patten
• Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park in Freeport
• Cobscook Bay State Park
• Ferry Beach State Park
• Shackford Head State Park
• Reid State Park
• state historic sites or memorials
• Hirundo Wildlife Refuge in Old Town and Alton
• Carter Nature Preserve
• Furth Wildlife and Talalay Nature Sanctuary in Surry
• 6 Coastal Mountains Land Trust preserves: Hodson preserve, Fernalds Neck, Harkness, McPheters, Beauchamp Point and Youngs Neck
• Maine Audubon’s wildlife sanctuaries

Judge dismisses Old Town lawsuits over rats and rooster

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 17, 2023

Two separate lawsuits have been dismissed against Old Town residents accused of keeping a loud rooster and, in the other case, having a nuisance property that allegedly provided food for rats. The city of Old Town sued Joann and Alan Gilbert because they were violating a city ordinance related to nuisance properties, in part by keeping a barrel of corn to feed deer. The city also sued Mona Dougherty because she was keeping a rooster and hens, violating an ordinance that prohibits livestock and poultry in single-family and general residence zoned areas. Both property owners took care of the issues, so Code Enforcement Office Dave Russell requested the lawsuits be dismissed.