Climate change is taxing Maine’s winter recreation

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 26, 2024

It’s getting more difficult to find enough winter in Maine for traditional activities. Longtime ice fishermen, snowmobilers, skiers, skaters and others who rely on winters to be cold and snowy are feeling the strain of a warming Maine. People from other states who traditionally come to Maine for snowmobiling and ice fishing trips are moving up their normal dates or relocating their vacations to new parts of the state, hoping to catch some winter. Some are canceling their visits, leaving vacancies at lodges that normally are booked solid.

Letter: Trail bond can preserve natural landscapes and support local economies

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 26, 2024

The Maine Trail Bond is essential for meeting the increasing demand for trails across our state. Maine’s trails are experiencing record levels of use, and many need repair due to extreme weather impacts. By investing in trail development and maintenance, we can ensure that our trails remain accessible and enjoyable for generations to come. Moreover, trails play a vital role in supporting Maine’s economy, especially in rural communities. We urge our fellow Mainers to support the Maine Trail Bond (LD 1156). ~ Phoebe Redfield, Woodie Wheaton Land Trust, Forest City Township

Mills proposes exempting all Maine nonprofits from sales tax

MAINE MONITOR • February 25, 2024

Gov. Janet Mills has proposed extending a sales tax exemption to all nonprofits operating in Maine, which state officials say will address inequities among organizations seeking exemptions and simplify the process, but will cost the state about $10 million annually. Mills said that extending the exemption to all nonprofits “eliminates the need for the Legislature to pass a new statutory exemption for every nonprofit seeking tax-exempt status and is consistent with the treatment of nonprofits in most other sales tax states.” Maine is among only 17 states and the only one in New England without a blanket exemption for nonprofits. The move would make more than 5,200 organizations newly eligible for sales tax exemption.

Letter: Accelerate transition to zero-emission trucks and cars

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • February 25, 2024

I’m accelerating my support of the Advanced Clean Cars II program. Thirteen other states have already sped past us by starting this initiative. Let’s make sure we, too, join the parade of zero-emission trucks and cars. Fans will be waving their flags! ~ Mariana Tupper, Falmouth

Column: Golden eagles come to Maine, but they are not easy to find

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • February 25, 2024

A dozen bird species are listed on the Maine endangered species list. Of these twelve, the golden eagle is certainly among the least encountered. Larger than a bald eagle, the best time of year see one in Maine is in March or the Fall in the western mountains. Sometimes, these eagles are seen in winter or summer, but those days are transient. Erynn Call, a wildlife biologist at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, is directing the Maine Golden Eagle Study in collaboration with the Eastern Golden Eagle Working Group and Conservation Science Global. It is a citizen-science project so you can help in several ways. IFW’s web page on the Maine Golden Eagle Study has a very useful link with many photos on how to separate golden eagles from bald eagles. ~ Herb Wilson

Letter: Take action now to counter climate change

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • February 25, 2024

The climate is changing. Winters are getting steadily warmer; this year is the warmest on record. It is devastating to think about next year being just as bad, unfathomable to realize it will continue to get worse. I am only a privileged teenager complaining about skiing disappearing. People can ignore me. But they cannot ignore the 12,000 lives taken in 2023 because of climate change. We cannot condone a dystopian future by lazily ignoring the problem. We have a solution: support carbon fees and dividends. Check out Citizens’ Climate Lobby for ideas. ~ Thea Dugas, Portland

Letter: I support wind energy, but not at the expense of Sears Island

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 25, 2024

It is disgraceful that our governor, has chosen our state’s beloved Sears Island for the proposed offshore wind port project. The ecological and economic impact on this region will be detrimental. My family and I have spent decades going to Sears Island. This project could destroy this beautiful place that has been here for millennia, a place that has such historical indigenous value. We cannot allow this to happen especially when there are other options available.  ~ Marilyn Rozelle, Milo

Column: Deciphering the Downeast deer yard

SUN JOURNAL • February 24, 2024

As Maine works at restoring its declining deer numbers in the north woods, identifying and protecting historic deer wintering areas has taken on a new urgency. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife now has dedicated funding that is legally earmarked to actually purchase known deer yards, so that the yards can be protected in perpetuity. This acquisition of deer yards is a work in progress. How many historic deer yards do we have? According to MDIF&W spokesman Ryan Robicheau, that figure is about 350,000 acres, or 2% of all forestland in the state. ~ V. Paul Reynolds

“Waiting For the Light: A Few Decades and Now Endless Possibilities,” Mar 26

BOWDOIN COLLEGE • February 24, 2024

Professor Collin Roesler discusses her research on optical oceanography and the changing composition and services of phytoplankton communities. At Bowdoin College, Visual Arts Center, Kresge Auditorium, March 26, 7:30 pm.

Opinion: With Sears Island decision, state goes back on its word

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 24, 2024

The state of Maine this week announced plans to build an offshore wind manufacturing facility on Sears Island – breaking its promise to Maine residents. In 2007, the state promised to choose Mack Point as the preferred location for future marine transportation development. Sadly, Islesboro Islands Trust has no choice now but to intervene using every legal means available. The Trust supports offshore wind but affirms that the offshore wind manufacturing facility should be built at Mack Point. ~ Steve Miller, Islesboro Islands Trust Executive Director

Letter: Maine should adopt Clean Car standards

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 24, 2024

As an electric vehicle driver since 2017, I am writing to express my strong support for the proposal to adopt Advanced Clean Car II, a stronger emissions standard for Maine. Maine has always had strong emissions standards, and this is an opportunity to stay true to our history while transitioning to technologies that will provide a cleaner, quieter, more sustainable future. I ask of the Board of Environmental Protection to adopt the proposed ACCII standards which will save Mainers money, reduce air pollution, and speed along Maine’s efforts to tackle climate change. ~ Lillian Harris, Falmouth

A day on the ocean with Maine’s tough winter scallopers

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 24, 2024

Though often romanticized for tourists and marketing, there’s little glamor in the work of a Maine fisherman — especially in the dead of winter, when the state’s scalloping season takes place. Worth about $9 million to Maine’s economy every year, it can be an important financial bridge for fishermen waiting out the slowest part of the lobstering season. Their fresh catch, known as “day boat scallops,” are prized and often sold directly to hungry locals. Those buyers are smart, knowing that scallops purchased at other times of the year have likely been soaked in preserving chemicals, which dilute the taste. Direct-to-consumer day boat scallops are a good deal for both the public and the fishermen.

This forestry practice makes ugly scenery on Maine hiking trails

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 24, 2024

A new forestry practice is confounding hikers deep in the woods of Orland. It’s ugly. But it’s working. I stumbled upon it while hiking Great Pond Mountain and Oak Hill in Orland, in a swathe of conserved land known as the Wildlands. Throughout the forest, trees were sawed off a few feet above the ground, leaving thousands of hip-high stumps. High-stumping is a forestry method used to get rid of diseased, canker-filled beech trees. “By cutting up high, the root system thinks there’s still a tree up there and doesn’t root sprout,” said Landon Fake, the land trust’s executive director. “It continues to send nutrients up the trunk.” The tree then dies without sending out dozens of sprouts like it normally would if it were cut near the ground. And this allows other tree species to grow.

Blind seal founded stranded in Maine gives birth and nurtures pup at an Illinois zoo

ASSOCIATED PRESS • February 23, 2024

A grey seal found stranded and blind more than a decade ago on an island in Maine has given birth at a Chicago-area zoo and is now “a very attentive mother” to her newborn, zoo officials said Friday. Because of her impaired vision, authorities with the National Marine Fisheries Service decided she could not be released back into the wild. The 11-year-old seal named “Georgie” gave birth on Feb. 17 to a nearly 35-pound male pup at the Brookfield Zoo. He’s gained 15 pounds in his first week on his mother’s extremely rich milk, and has been practicing his swimming skills in a pool, zoo officials said.

Bill looks to safeguard Maine shoreland, giving more 'teeth' to municipal zoning violation fines

NEWS CENTER MAINE • February 23, 2024

Major support is being shown for a bill that aims to safeguard state shoreland, by giving municipalities more authority to enforce zoning laws. Presented by Sen. Tim Nangle, "An Act to Strengthen Shoreland Zoning Enforcement" would give more strength to local governments to defend zoning laws when ordinances are violated. It would also grant more authority to the Maine Land Use Planning Commission.

Air pollution tied to signs of Alzheimer’s in brain tissue, study finds

WASHINGTON POST • February 23, 2024

People who inhale higher concentrations of tiny airborne particulates, like from diesel exhaust or other traffic-related air pollutants, are more likely to have signs of Alzheimer’s disease in their brains, according to a new study, the latest in a growing body of research that shows a link between air pollution and cognitive decline.

Bangor recycling plant illegally obtained 190 catalytic converters, according to civil suit

MAINE PUBLIC • February 23, 2024

State officials filed a civil complaint on Tuesday against AIM Recycling in Bangor for the illegal possession of almost 200 catalytic converters. Court documents filed Tuesday say investigators from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles discovered the devices at the plant last August. Authorities alleged the recycling plant did not have the required license to obtain the converters. Catalytic converters in car exhaust systems are targeted by thieves for their precious metals and relatively easy access.

Mills makes formal requests for federal disaster relief from January storms

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 23, 2024

Gov. Janet Mills formally asked President Biden on Friday to issue a major disaster declaration to provide relief following a set of storms that battered Maine’s coast in January. The funds would be used to repair roads, bridges, public buildings and utilities and other public infrastructure in Washington, Hancock, Waldo, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Cumberland and York counties, which together suffered about $70.3 million in damage to public infrastructure. The Jan. 10 and Jan. 13 storms pummeled Maine’s coastline with heavy rain, flooding, ocean swells, record high tides and wind gusts of up to 60 mph.

Coastal Enterprises launches Weatherization Business Lab

PENOBSCOT BAY PILOT • February 23, 2024

Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI) is launching a new Weatherization Business Lab.  This free, seven-week program will provide trade professionals with basic business management tools and industry insights to help weatherization contractors open or expand their businesses. Equipping more Maine entrepreneurs with the skills and business acumen to improve the efficiency of buildings is an important step to help Maine reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while growing small businesses and good jobs across the state. Maine-based independent construction, installation and repair professionals are encouraged to apply.

Letter: Offshore wind can help us preserve the things we love in Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 23, 2024

Even as a staunch environmental advocate, the sight of wind turbines has not always inspired joy for me. Now, with the new proposed port on Sears Island, I find myself facing the reality of another new facility in the state. When I consider the things this state needs most, like more affordable and reliable energy, better-paying and more jobs, clean energy solutions that prioritize community resilience, and protection from climate disasters, offshore wind is one solution that addresses each and every one. ~ Riley Stevenson, Waldoboro