World Monument Fund will consider designating Maine’s lighthouses as threatened heritage sites

MAINE PUBLIC • March 19, 2024

Having suffered millions in damages from this winter's coastal storms, the World Monument Fund (WMF) will consider designating Maine’s lighthouses as threatened heritage sites. Maine Preservation — a non-profit dedicated to preserving Maine's historic sites — submitted the proposal in conjunction with the American Lighthouse Association. The groups say the December and January storms caused millions in damages to the lighthouses caused by high winds and powerful waves.

UMaine to livestream total solar eclipse with high-altitude weather balloon

MAINE PUBLIC • March 19, 2024

About 10 students from the University of Maine are preparing to launch a high altitude weather balloon that will livestream the total solar eclipse from the stratosphere on April 8. The balloon, which has a parachute attached and can expand up to 40 feet in diameter in the air, will launch about an hour or two before totality. It will travel above the clouds at up to 90,000 feet. The camera on board will capture the eclipse, though Eason said the group is hoping for clear skies.

Comp plan update ready for Yarmouth residents’ review

FORECASTER • March 19, 2024

After more than a year of working on it, the Yarmouth Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee will present a draft of its proposed update to the Planning Board next week. Residents have until April 30 to provide feedback on the plan. Components of the plan come from the town’s Future Land Use Plan that addresses zoning, land preservation and public investments, and the upcoming Climate Action Plan’s sustainability and resilience goals and policies.

Campaign to Protect Sears Island/Wahsumkik, March 24

FRIENDS OF SEARS ISLAND • March 19, 2024

Those interested in preventing a 100-acre manufacturing facility for floating wind turbines from being built on Sears Island (Searsport, ME) will gather to discuss what can be done to protect this special place. At Legion Hall, 143 Church St., Belfast, March 24, 2-5 pm meeting, 5-6pm potluck dinner, 6-9pm live music by the Midnight Riders.

Birding becomes an unexpected balm for the soul in UVM professor’s new book

MAINE PUBLIC • March 19, 2024

Trish O’Kane’s new memoir “Birding to Change the World,” traces her journey to becoming an educator and creating the birding program of the same name. The 61-year-old grew up in southern California and was a journalist for 15 years. After finishing the spring semester at Loyola, O’Kane — still recovering from the emotional toll of Katrina as well as the decline of her father’s health from cancer — moved to Madison, Wisconsin, to begin working toward a Ph.D in environmental studies. “And then I discovered the birds,” O’Kane said. “And I discovered people who love the birds. “For me, this joy and the birds and the children — it's our renewable, sustainable fuel for our souls,” O’Kane said.

Opinion: No longer in denial, I’m grieving the loss of Maine winter

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 19, 2024

Trying to accept the news that winter was dying was very like the grieving process. As the evidence has mounted, I’ve been in denial: This is a fluke, next year will be better, more “normal.” But this past year has made it impossible to pretend. The Summer That Wasn’t – weeks of seemingly daily rain or fog – was followed by the Fall That Wasn’t, the hoped-for brilliant foliage dulled by the summer rain. And now, the Winter That Wasn’t. I’ve gotten past denial. I’m sad, deeply sad. I’m also angry at those who’ve been so busy calling climate change a hoax. I’m tired of having to bargain over the deteriorating health of our planet and I will never, ever accept it. ~ Amy MacDonald, Portland in winter, Vinalhaven in summer

Opinion: MainePERS has the means to divest, but not the will

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 19, 2024

The effects of our changing climate are having a big impact, and yet in many ways it is business as usual. In 2021, in recognition of the climate crisis, the Maine Legislature passed a law requiring the state’s public pension fund, the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) to divest its holdings in fossil fuel companies by 2026. However, not only will MainePERS not meet the 2026 target date, they will not even be making substantial progress. When it comes to comes to moving away from fossil fuels, the response is that we are too small to be leaders; we are followers. I disagree. MainePERS’ most recent divestment report lists its fossil fuel exposure to be greater than $1.2 billion. To change our trajectory on climate change impacts, it will take bold action, not the kind of inaction displayed by MainePERS leadership. ~ Don Witherill retired after 42 years with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Letter: Vote like the Earth depends on it

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 19, 2024

Is there any Mainer who has not been impacted by global warming in 2023/2024? What can we do? Vote like the Earth depends upon it. Maine primaries for the state Legislature and U.S. Senate and House will be held on June 11. Register to vote. Try to attend a candidate town hall or campaign event. Ask candidates what climate policies they support. Check out their websites to see what they say about environment and energy. We must make climate our highest priority. Vote! ~ Dorothy Jones, Brunswick

Column: Maine’s forests are filling with the songs of lovesick birds

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 19, 2024

There are nearly 300 breeding birds in Maine, and they’re all about to have sex. That means the woods are about to get loud with song, as the birds go about the business of attracting mates and defending territories. These 300 birds do not settle down randomly. Each one has a specific habitat preference. Once they’re done moving around during migration, you can safely assume that if you hear a bird on territory, the territory contains the habitat the bird prefers. Your yard, your neighborhood, up-ta-camp — each one has its own unique sound. In about three weeks, my own yard will start telling me that I have tall pines (pine warblers), mature trees (black-throated green warblers, northern parula, red-eyed vireos), mixed hardwood and softwood (both white-breasted and red-breasted nuthatches, plus blue-headed vireos), plenty of woodpecker cavities (great-crested flycatcher) and lots of open edges (chipping sparrows). What will your yard tell you? ~ Bob Duchesne

Aroostook County landfill cuts towns a break on blighted buildings

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 19, 2024

On March 1, Aroostook Waste Solutions, co-owned by Caribou, Limestone, Fort Fairfield and Presque Isle, began a pilot program aimed at decreasing the financial burden of blight. Municipalities do not have to pay tipping fees for demolition debris brought to Tri-Community Landfill in Fort Fairfield, so long as they do not exceed 500 total tons of debris, divided among the four communities.

Nominations sought for Bicknell Award for birding conservation

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • March 19, 2024

The sixth Rangeley Birding Festival, set for Friday to Sunday, June 7-9, will announce and present the John Bicknell Award for Conservation and Birding. The award honors the legacy of Bicknell, a Rangeley resident who has been recognized for environmental stewardship by Audubon International. The Bicknell Award acknowledges those individuals who have worked to further birding and conserve bird habitats in Maine. Nominations are due by May 1.

UMaine Orono part of high-altitude balloon launch to record solar eclipse

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 18, 2024

The University of Maine Orono is among 75 colleges and universities that are launching balloons 90,000 feet into the atmosphere to livestream the April 8 solar eclipse. Ten undergraduate and graduate students have been “designing and testing cameras, data collection, control and tracking systems for the April 8 launch by the UMaine High Altitude Ballooning program,” according to a university news release.

The spring equinox is here. What does that mean?

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 19, 2024

The vernal equinox arrives on Tuesday, marking the start of the spring season, officially, at least, for the Northern Hemisphere. But what does that actually mean? During the equinox, the Earth’s axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight.

Proposal would exempt agricultural pesticides from law banning forever chemicals

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 18, 2024

A proposal before the Maine Legislature would exempt agricultural pesticides from reporting requirements and a ban on products containing forever chemicals by 2030. Supporters of the proposal acknowledged during a public hearing Monday that forever chemicals, the per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS, are a problem but said the farming industry needs more time to figure out solutions. Opponents raised concerns about pesticides containing PFAS contributing to food contamination and said the current law is reasonable.

Legislature gets its first look at Searsport offshore wind site as backers and critics weigh in

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 18, 2024

The Legislature got its first close look Monday at Gov. Janet Mills’ selection of Sears Island as the hub for Maine’s floating offshore wind power industry while supporters and opponents weighed in on a plan to allow a terminal to be built in a coastal sand dune system. Backers who spoke before the Environment and Natural Resources Committee emphasized the need to ramp up wind power in Maine. Opponents criticized what they say would be the industrialization of the island in Searsport .

Hillandale egg farm requests Turner to rezone poultry farm amid property sale

SUN JOURNAL • March 18, 2024

Hillandale Farms Conn has requested that the town rezone its poultry farm after it listed about half of its property for sale. Hillandale is hoping to have the property rezoned under Rural 1, which allows for farming and residential lots. The farm’s production is substantially smaller than it was almost a decade ago.

New bill on sand dune protections reignites debate over proposed Sears Island wind port

MAINE PUBLIC • March 18, 2024

A new bill seeks to roll back sand dune protections as a way to allow construction of a proposed wind port project on Sears Island. The bill is emerging as the first source of debate over Gov. Janet Mills' selection of Sears Island as the preferred site of a wind terminal on the Midcoast, which faces an extensive permitting environmental assessment process. The legislative proposal from the Mills administration would grant an exception to the state's sand dune protections. Specifically, the bill would allow the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to evaluate an application for the offshore wind terminal, which would be located on a coastal sand dune on Sears Island.

Local monkfish stew and marinara sauce set to be served in schools

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 18, 2024

Locally sourced monkfish stew is now cleared to be included in school lunches thanks to the Maine Local Foods Fund. The stew — produced by local company Maine Coast Monkfish Stew — is one of two food products to receive the first qualifications from Maine Local Foods Fund, overseen by the Maine Department of Education. The program offers fund-matching incentives for schools to purchase food that is grown, caught, harvested or produced in Maine.

Judge struggles to untangle Popham Beach land dispute

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 18, 2024

The Tappens claim they own the rights to beachfront land, having bought a deed to it in 2021. The Hills say the deed is worthless because the land was intended for all neighbors to access, and are asking the judge to declare the parcel a “common area.” Superior Court Justice Thomas McKeon said he expects to make a decision “sooner rather than later.” If he rules against the motion, the case is headed for trial.

Butterflies in Maine, March 28

TIMES RECORD • March 18, 2024

There are 119 species of butterflies that have been documented in Maine. Dr. Ron Butler, professor emeritus at UMaine Farmington and a leading expert on Maine’s butterflies, will discuss the beautiful and unique butterflies that make Maine their home. Zoom, March 28, 6 pm. Sponsored by Kennebec Estuary Land Trust. FMI: kennebecestuary.org/upcoming-events