Valued in the millions, Swans Island fishing wharf damaged by January storms is up at auction

MAINE PUBLIC • April 29, 2024

A working waterfront property on Swans Island damaged by the January storms is now up for auction. The owners of Kent’s Wharf value the business and property to be worth $2.9 million, setting the minimum bid at $1.4 million. Beyond selling fuel and bait, Kent’s Wharf operates as a middleman for commercial fishermen — buying their lobster catch and selling to seafood retailers. Shelton said the wharf serves about half of the island's commercial fishermen. During the January storms, the high sea levels lifted one of the docks at Kent's Wharf off its pylons and onto its side. The wharf’s owners successfully applied for a $5,000 grant from the Island Institute and have since made the repairs.

Bath ospreys snub CMP’s new perch, advocate calls for pole barrier removal

TIMES RECORD • April 29, 2024

Central Maine Power is facing a fresh round of backlash as a mating pair of ospreys have tried and failed repeatedly to nest atop a utility pole alone Route 1 after CMP removed the nest, fearing the birds or nest could damage the lines and knock out power to the area. The utility added yellow pylon-like barriers atop the utility pole to try to deter the raptors from rebuilding, but the pair has attempted numerous times to build in between the barriers.

Electricity Maine could pay up to $5 million in refunds to customers in a proposed settlement

MAINE PUBLIC • April 29, 2024

Electricity Maine would be required to issue up to $5 million in refunds to customers, under a proposed settlement with the Maine Public Utilities Commission. The company, which offers an alternative to the state's "standard offer" for electricity supply, is under scrutiny for allegedly moving customers, without sufficient notice, from fixed to variable rates, and allegedly charging rates that caused some customers' bills to balloon by hundreds of dollars per month. A proposed stipulation between the company and PUC staff would require Electricity Maine to pay up to $5 million to refund about 18,000 current and former customers, and work to improve customer service moving forward. But the stipulation does not have support from Maine Public Advocate Bill Harwood. Harwood said the company needs to offer more money in refunds to customers, and also noted that the company has now repeatedly violated consumer protection rules.

Complaints of odors from Hartland Landfill linger as town works toward closure

MORNING SENTINEL • April 29, 2024

Some residents say town officials, along with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, do not do enough to mitigate the odors, respond to concerns and protect the landfill’s neighbors. Town officials, however, say they do what they can to keep odors contained and address complaints. And if the landfill is to be closed one day, which some neighbors hope will be sooner rather than later, the town must continue to operate the landfill to save millions of dollars needed to close the facility — a plan approved by voters. The DEP can take enforcement actions if there is sufficient evidence of a violation. But the department has not taken formal enforcement actions in relation to the Hartland Landfill in recent years.

Global negotiations on a treaty to end plastic pollution at critical phase

ASSOCIATED PRESS • April 29, 2024

For the first time, negotiators from most of the world’s nations are discussing the text of what is supposed to become a global treaty to end plastic pollution. Delegates and observers at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution called it a welcome sign that talk has shifted from ideas to treaty language at this fourth of five scheduled plastics summits. Negotiators aim to conclude a treaty by the end of 2024

Christmas trees now helping restore Popham Beach sand dunes

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 29, 2024

Volunteers and workers have almost finished placing old, donated Christmas trees in rows along Popham Beach as part of an effort to restore sand dunes that were flattened by winter storms. In late March, they placed about 460 trees along the public beach in Phippsburg, creating three rows that totaled 1,560 feet in length. The team will add a fourth and final row in the weeks to come, after this month’s highest tides have passed.

Maine gets low marks for hurricane preparedness

MAINE PUBLIC • April 29, 2024

An insurance group reports Maine is falling behind in preparing for hurricanes.The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety has issued its 5th "Rating The States" survey. It found Maine is now 14th among the 18 East Coast and Gulf Coast states that are at risk from the big storms. Its rating has slipped since 2012, when the Institute first rated the states. The institute's Managing Director of Standards and Analytics, Dr. Ian Giammanco, says since then, there have been two revisions to building standards that Maine has failed to adopt. Among the newer requirements: sealed roof decks.

Letter: Celebrate, rather than eat, lobsters

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • April 29, 2024

The second Annual Auburn Lobster Festival, set for May 11, should honor these magnificent, complex animals — not eat them. While lobsters look different from humans, they are intelligent animals that use complicated signals to explore their surroundings and establish social relationships. And just like people, lobsters have a sophisticated nervous system that enables them to feel pain. There is no humane way to kill these sensitive, fascinating beings. The lobster industry is also hazardous to the environment. Entanglement from lobster fishing gear is one of the biggest threats to aquatic life and our fragile ecosystem. ~ Scott Miller, The PETA Foundation

Column: Whitewater paddling is a challenging rite of spring

TIMES RECORD • April 28, 2024

During my half-century whitewater journey, I’ve experienced several transitions. Initially, my friends and I paddled long, awkward tandem canoes and wore inferior cold-water gear. Over time, most of us evolved into solo canoes and kayaks. We now wear dry suits, dry tops or wetsuits, and use state of the art whitewater equipment. For many years, our paddling skills reflected the improved quality of our outfitting. More recently, I’ve entered another stage in my paddling endeavors: old age. My skills have diminished, likewise my confidence. But I still love the sport. ~ Ron Chase

Opinion: Wabanaki stewardship of the land benefits all

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 25, 2024

I have witnessed the return of thousands of acres to tribal control and even more acres opened up to Wabanaki cultural practices and harvesting of critical cultural resources. One completed land return project of note is the return of Pine Island/Kuwesuwi Monihq  to the Passamaquoddy Tribe in 2021. One current project, led by the Penobscot Nation and the Trust for Public Land, looks to return about 30,000 acres to the Penobscot Nation along the east branch of the Penobscot River/Wáhsehtəkʷ in the Penobscot language, in the heart of my tribe’s ancestral hunting and fishing territories. What is best for the earth is that we — Wabanaki and non-Wabanaki — need to work together to take care of our home for future generations. ~ Dr. Darren Ranco, Penobscot Nation citizen, coordinator of Native American Research at UMaine, and a member of the Wabanaki Commission on Land and Stewardship

In a historic legislative session, some big reforms for Maine still fell short

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • April 28, 2024

Lawmakers passed a carve-out in environmental regulations that the governor requested to allow construction of an offshore wind terminal on Sears Island. Lawmakers also pushed back the state’s timeline for banning the sale of most products that contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, to 2032 – two years later than the deadline currently written into state law. The changes also include a 2026 sales ban on children’s goods, cleaning products, cookware, cosmetics, rugs, ski wax and upholstered furniture that contain PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.” A ban on the sale of artificial turf with PFAS goes into effect in 2029.

Column: Birders rejoice as many species overshoot targets and arrive in New England

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • April 28, 2024

Spring migration is ramping up, and each evening we have tens of thousands of birds pass over Maine. Some birds are migratory species whose range doesn’t usually reach Maine. These include, in the past week: at least seven blue grosbeaks; several summer tanagers; a yellow-throated warbler in Kennebunk; a swallow-tailed kite over Portland; and a painted bunting in Saco. These “overshoots” are migrating north but instead of stopping within their range, they overshoot and end up farther north than they would usually go. ~ Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist Doug Hitchcox

Column: Welcome to spring on Winthrop-Wayne town line

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • April 28, 2024

A paddling outing on Berry and Dexter ponds astride the Winthrop-Wayne town line is a wonderful way to spend a blue-sky April morning. We enjoyed a three-hour exploration of these small ponds this past Sunday, seeing only one other boater. Both Berry and Dexter ponds provide sweeping views to the east of the forested slopes of Mount Pisgah. It had been a day of many “first sightings” of the spring. True to the theme of the day, when we neared home, we were greeted by a pair of osprey just returned to the neighborhood nest. All was complete. ~ Michael Perry

Opinion: Mills’ veto of farmworker bill a sad failure of leadership

CENTRAL MAINE • April 28, 2024

Gov. Janet Mills has again single-handedly scuttled an attempt to correct a significant historical injustice. And this time, in a gesture both ironic and cynical, she vetoed her own bill, L.D. 2273, which was already a severely pared-down version of previous legislation she opposed. The governor’s claim to strongly support a farmworker minimum wage rings hollow in light of the facts. What is now evident is that on the issue of justice for farmworkers, the governor is not a leader but an obstruction. Shame on her. ~ Mike Roland, retired director, Bureau of Labor Standards, Maine Department of Labor

Let’s be stewards of the Earth

CENTRAL MAINE • April 28, 2024

In the beginning was God, and God was love. People discovered cheap sources of energy, fossil fuels enabled them to amass great wealth. Others became rich through manufacturing and dumping waste products into the water and air. This damaged God’s creation. Love decided that people needed understanding to balance their greed. Those who saw the need for love and conserving God’s planet were charged with teaching this message. And they were resisted mightily at those who sought to hoard wealth. And so Love has given us the gift of purpose; a challenge to make ourselves worthy companions and stewards for the earth and our children. ~ Richard Thomas, Waterville

Letter: Nature pays the price for ‘carpet-lawn culture’

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • April 28, 2024

Kudos to Falmouth’s Conservation Commission for recommending to its Town Council that it adopt the commission’s proposed regulation to limit residential use of pesticides and certain synthetic fertilizers (effective 2025), similar to the regulations adopted in Portland, South Portland and Cape Elizabeth. We need leadership at a communitywide level to help make it OK for us to stop using pesticides and chemical fertilizers on our lawns, and to recognize that as a virtue for the greater good. Let us hope that the Falmouth Town Council will provide that leadership and adopt the proposed regulation. ~ Peggy McGehee, Falmouth

Letter: Earth is a miracle planet

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • April 28, 2024

The Earth is one planet among trillions of other planets in the known universe. The Earth is not significant because it is the largest planet, nor is it the oldest. What is distinct about our home world is that it took the efforts of the collective comets, meteorites, and stardust to form the Earth over time. It took the radiation of our medium-class “baby star” we call the sun to give us the warmth necessary to survive in the “Green Zone.” Our planet is located exactly between the blistering closeness of heat and life deadening distance of the freeze of space. Yes, we live on a spinning miracle. A community effort to start life. It will take a community effort to maintain life. ~ James Weathersby , Augusta

Letter: Putting the brakes on growth

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • April 28, 2024

I perceive that any person or company seeking the fast growth of Maine to put money in their pockets is an enemy of the state. Maine is allowed to be Maine as, presently, she is. Let us decide to turn away from all speedy-growth-inducing decisions. It is Maine’s hope for herself. ~ Loretta MacKinnon, Yarmouth

Mi’kmaqs hope expanded hatchery will help them tap into national fish market

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 28, 2024

A major expansion is expected to create more profitable opportunities for a Maine tribe raising fresh brook trout in Aroostook County. This summer, Mi’kmaq Farms plans to break ground on a new 12,000-square-foot hatchery near their farm store on Presque Isle Road in Caribou, quadrupling the size of their current 3,000-square-foot hatchery. The new facility will include four 18,000-gallon tanks, and will more than double the capacity of the current hatchery’s two 16,000-gallon tanks, in which brook trout are raised from eggs to fully grown fish ready for consumption.

11 things you might not know about Acadia National Park, but should

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 28, 2024

Acadia National Park is like no other place on Earth. Here are a few things you might not know about Acadia, but should, if planning to visit this summer:

1. The park’s busy season starts Memorial Day weekend and continues through leaf peeping in the fall.
2. Park staff conducts an average of 38 technical rope rescues a year.
3. While the park employs about 80 people in the offseason, there are 250 employees in the summer.
4. Acadia National Park is dog-friendly.
5. There are no “free” trails or parking areas.
6. Acadia trails are marked with blue paint and little rock piles called cairns.
7. Many who visit Acadia head for well-known spots — Sand Beach, the summit of Cadillac Mountain and the Jordan Pond House; there are plenty of other beautiful places in the park to explore.
8. One of the most spectacular annual events the park hosts is the Acadia Night Sky Festival.
9. Acadia does feel the effects of mud season.
10. Like many parks, Acadia has a problem with people taking rocks and other natural objects from its beaches and woods.
11. If you come to a full parking lot, study the park map and choose another spot to explore.