Opinion: Offshore wind in Gulf of Maine an opportunity we can’t ignore

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • September 29, 2024

The Department of the Interior will hold an offshore wind energy lease sale at the end of October. Eight different areas in federal waters have the potential to power more than 4.5 million homes. That’s enough electricity to avoid nearly 50 million tons of fossil fuel emissions. Maine Audubon has spent a lot of time evaluating and advocating for opportunities to address climate change, including supporting renewable energy. But we have to do it right. This lease sale is the culmination of years of work from Maine Audubon and other advocates to convince the federal government to only issue leases in specific areas, those with the least amount of potential impacts on wildlife, commerce and transit. ~ Andy Beahm, Maine Audubon

Salmon parr at Peter Gray Hatchery have virus 2nd year in a row

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 27, 2024

The Downeast Salmon Federation’s Peter Gray Hatchery’s salmon parr project has tested positive for infectious pancreatic necrosis virus for the second year in a row. Last year, 170,000 salmon were killed because of the virus. The federation said it cannot release this year’s salmon either. The infected salmon will be killed, Dwayne Shaw, executive director of Downeast Salmon Federation, said Friday.

This bear led hunters and hounds on a merry chase

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 28, 2024

Ezra Dean, a guide for Grove Hill Outfitters in Brownville, had his eye on this bear for two years. The large boar kept showing up on cameras during overnight hours. Dean has tried over the last two years to help his clients nab it. He tried to get it during trapping season, but the bear simply moved to another area. He tried to get it over bait, but the bear stopped showing up at any of the bait sites. There was one option left. Hounds. And Pastor Mike Spencer of New York state, who was part of a group of pastors from Faith Bible College International hunting in Maine for the week, got it done.

Maine Woman Who Feeds Raccoons and Cats on Her Back Porch Is a Real-Life Snow White

AOL. • September 28, 2024

Generally speaking, feeding wildlife while visiting an outdoor area isn't recommended. Animals can quickly become reliant on humans for food, and then they're out of luck when those humans leave. When you live out in the forest, however, you may be able to offer animal friends consistent, safe snacks that don't mess with their diet or natural instincts. Just look at the Daily Hiss Crew! This is a group of raccoons and cats from Maine who all found a friend (and chef) in one generous resident. She feeds them all from the comfort of her porch, and she's taken in many of the cats as indoor/outdoor pets.

'Stars over Katahdin' celebrates importance of dark skies

MAINE PUBLIC • September 28, 2024

Visitors will gather in Patten Saturday night for Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters' annual celebration of the area's dark skies and stars. The Katahdin Region has the darkest skies east of the Mississippi River, and the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is an International Dark Sky Sanctuary.

Brief rain hasn’t alleviated Maine’s drought conditions

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 28, 2024

A short period of rainfall this past week hasn’t done much to alleviate mild drought conditions in Maine. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, much of central and eastern Maine are experiencing “abnormally dry” conditions. The advisory extends through Down East Maine and the midcoast. The areas closest to Maine’s coastline, including southern Washington and Hancock counties, as well as Knox and Lincoln counties are experiencing “moderate drought” conditions. York County is also experiencing abnormally dry and mild drought conditions.

Opinion: Maine’s landfill capacity must be expanded to avoid crisis

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 28, 2024

When L.D. 1911 passed in 2022, it was first-of-its-kind legislation in the United States and a milestone in public health toward the elimination of PFAS and other forever chemicals from the environment. And while the positive impacts of Maine’s legislation have been proudly celebrated across the country, its clean water industry has quietly inherited one of the largest challenges since the Clean Water Act of 1972: Where (and how) to safely dispose of the states’ biosolids? While it is not our first choice, the state must expand capacity at its landfill so industry leaders can continue to develop and fund the infrastructure to support the policies that have been enacted. We strongly recommend that the public benefit determination is granted for the proposed expansion of the Juniper Ridge landfill. ~ Theresa Tucker, Maine Water Environment Association

Letter: Voters should spike artificial turf proposal

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 28, 2024
On Nov. 5, South Portland voters will decide whether to spend over $12 million to install four artificial turf athletic fields at South Portland High School, which are blankets of plastic laid down over natural vegetation. Over an 8-12-year lifespan, these fields leach microplastics and other chemicals into local waterways, create a significant “heat island” effect (over 150F), increase runoff and erosion, and increase skin abrasions and foot/ankle injuries in players. The fields are not recyclable, although companies fraudulently say that they are. Old turf fields continue to contaminate our environment in landfills. ~ Karen Talentino, South Portland

Letter: Searsport wind project is about the big picture

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 28, 2024

It saddens me to think about how Maine is, and will continue to be, affected by climate change, which is why I support the offshore wind project in Searsport. With offshore wind, Maine can shift away from fossil fuels that cause harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and move into a sustainable energy source. Bringing offshore wind to Maine will help protect our fragile environments and ensure that Mainers will continue to have the beautiful outdoors to explore and protect. ~ Leah Johnson, Portland

Aroostook farm couple plan to fill void left by loss of Houlton dairy’s milk

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 28, 2024

The owners of a small family farm want to fill a void created by the loss of Aroostook County’s only white milk producer and meet what they say is a growing demand for non-traditional dairy products. Starting this fall, longtime partners Adam Dube and Melissa Jandreau want to start constructing a new organic dairy creamery that will produce white and chocolate milks, ice cream and yogurt from their farm in Perham, and then ship those products to County stores and schools.

Only experienced hikers should take on these rugged Maine mountains

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 28, 2024

In Baxter State Park, Katahdin and The Brothers are among 40-plus peaks and ridges that you can explore on more than 220 miles of trails. Each summer, my family camps in the park, and I make it my mission to explore different trails. Perhaps someday I’ll have hiked them all. ~ Aislinn Sarnacki

Letter: The cost of climate change

SUN JOURNAL • September 28, 2024

How many more storms, property and lives lost due to climate change, will it take before we are willing to make the necessary changes to try to mitigate the damage? It seems to make sense to pay an upfront cost now to try to minimize the harm that is going to occur later. Let’s try to leave future generations a better planet than we now have. ~ Stan Tetenman, Poland

New bike, pedestrian trail projects will help close the loop around Portland’s peninsula

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 27, 2024

Portland is finalizing designs for two new trails that will nearly complete a route that will allow cyclists and pedestrians to circumnavigate the peninsula. The city’s trail network already covers large swaths of the peninsula’s perimeter, like the Eastern Promenade and the Fore River Parkway, but several gaps leave bikers and pedestrians navigating traffic and dangerous intersections.

New bike, pedestrian trail projects will help close the loop around Portland’s peninsula

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 27, 2024

Portland is finalizing designs for two new trails that will nearly complete a route that will allow cyclists and pedestrians to circumnavigate the peninsula. The city’s trail network already covers large swaths of the peninsula’s perimeter, like the Eastern Promenade and the Fore River Parkway, but several gaps leave bikers and pedestrians navigating traffic and dangerous intersections.

Column: This is why cedar waxwings are special

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 27, 2024

Cedar waxwings are special. Cedar waxwings could have been designed by a Renaissance painter. Cedar waxwings are one of the most sociable species on the planet. Bohemian waxwings are slightly larger and grayer than cedar waxwings. They nest farther north. Cedar and Bohemian waxwings will likely invade this winter, and they don’t mind sharing each other’s company. Some flocks of cedar waxwings are already here. ~ Bob Duchesne

Obituary: Irving Gilbert “Gib” Wescott

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 27, 2024

Irving Gilbert “Gib” Wescott- passed away peacefully on Aug. 21, 2024 at age 87. He was proud to donate almost 40 acres of those woods to the Freeport Conservation Trust so that others could enjoy them as he did as a boy.

Woman who drew attention to missing Bangor cats loses own pet to wildlife attack

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 27, 2024

Jennifer Delano let her orange tabby cat, Max, outside around 6 a.m. on Friday. Roughly two hours later, a neighbor posted that the body of a cat matching Max’s description was found. At least 21 cats have gone missing in the Fairmount neighborhood since June and only one has returned home. Some residents were certain that wildlife known to be in the area, including coyotes, foxes and fishers, were killing the cats. A police detective assigned to this matter is leading the investigation.

Orland temporarily blocks owner of dams from letting them go

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 27, 2024

Orland voters adopted a moratorium Thursday that will temporarily prevent the owner of two local dams — one on Alamoosook Lake and another on Toddy Pond — from disposing of the properties. The temporary measure is similar to another adopted by Bucksport last month, which aims to ensure that a third dam on Silver Lake is not abandoned, removed, transferred to a new owner, or opened up to release all the water held behind it. All three of the dams are owned by subsidiaries of AIM Demolition USA, which bought the former Verso Paper mill in Bucksport in 2015 before dismantling the facility.

Auburn filmmaker on a mission to introduce Maine’s lumberjills to the world

SUN JOURNAL • September 27, 2024

Breanna Wing, an Auburn-raised filmmaker, is working on a film about lumberjills, women involved in the timber sports industry. “A lot of the lumberjills are redefining society, with how they have navigated societal perceptions, their physical power, identity and family responsibilities,” Wing said. “They challenge gender norms. We want the kids to get excited, to get outdoors, get active, and get healthy,” she said. “A lot of timber sports do that.”

The carbon market’s quest to overcome its last big hurdle

WASHINGTON POST • September 27, 2024

In theory, a carbon credit is a certificate representing a one-ton drop in greenhouse gas emissions tied to projects such as a wind farm or a tree-planting scheme. They’re bought by companies to compensate for the pollution they produce somewhere else in the world. But, when it comes to the laws that underpin financial markets, the answer to that question isn’t yet clear. Until it’s solved, banks and investors are unlikely to allocate anywhere near the billions of dollars that proponents expect to flow to carbon credits.