The Last Fish House on Otter Creek

ISLAND INSTITUTE • August 1, 2025

On a warm July afternoon, Steve Smith sat outside a fish house in Otter Creek on Mount Desert Island, telling me stories. In the summer of 2024, Acadia National Park welcomed an average of about 20,000 tourists each day, many of whom drove along Route 3, a major artery that connects Bar Harbor, Seal Harbor, and Somes Sound. Otter Creek might be overlooked. Confined within the national park borders, to the undiscerning eye, the village is nothing more than a crossroad. A lifetime before Smith was born, we would have beheld a waterfront village bustling with commerce. Smith has spent his life fighting to conserve the waterfront identity of Otter Creek. at times illegally.

Canadian tariffs have increased to 35%. How will Maine be affected?

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 1, 2025

President Donald Trump increased tariffs on certain Canadian imports from 25% to 35% Friday. But the latest tariffs on Maine’s neighbor — by far its biggest trade partner — only apply to items that are not otherwise covered by the United States Mexico Canada Agreement, a major pact designed to alleviate trade barriers between the three countries. Maine brought in more than $4.7 billion worth of Canadian goods last year. The agreement is sweeping, and it could exempt the vast majority of Canadian imports from the 35% tariff.

Beech leaf disease has hit all 16 Maine counties. What does it mean?

SUN JOURNAL • August 1, 2025

A new forest disease identified in Maine just three years ago is now present in all counties, raising concerns among ecologists and wildlife managers as it targets one of the Northeast’s most ecologically valuable trees. Beech leaf disease is caused by a microscopic nematode, a worm, and causes leaves to present with dark banding and curling, eventually causing a dieback from the tips of branches inward to the tree. The leaf disease can attack saplings and seedlings, which endangers the species from long-term spread and growth. It’s causing great concerns about the production of beechnuts, a source of food for many of the state’s native species. Only a few experimental treatments in controlled environments have shown any promise in killing and preventing the disease. There are no known methods for containing the disease or eradicating it in natural settings.

Injured hiker recounts her treacherous night atop Katahdin

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 1, 2025

Battered by the wind and soaked by the rain, she thought the end had come for her atop Katahdin. But Beata Kosc, 47, of New York survived a miserable night on the Knife Edge with her hiking partner, 32-year-old Courtney Doyon of Maine, and a man and boy turned back from the summit by Pamola’s fury.Her ordeal atop Maine’s highest peak came just weeks after Tim Keiderling and his daughter, Esther Keiderling, died during a May 31 trek up the mountain. They spent the night fighting strong winds and chilly rain, holding onto the rocks to avoid falling. Finally, after daybreak on July 25, rescuers reached the group, bringing food, warm fluids and clothes, as well as a tent for Kosc to shelter in. Despite the humbling experience, Kosc told the Globe she is determined to hike Katahdin again. “This mountain taught me to be prepared for the unknown,” Kosc told the newspaper “It reminded me how strong I am.”

Letter: PETA claws back respect for lobster

CENTRAL MAINE • August 1, 2025

Regarding the July 24 article “PETA sues Maine Lobster Festival in an effort to stop steaming of 20,000 pounds of live lobster,” I say kudos to PETA. Lobsters are living creatures that, of course, feel pain. If Maine held a “Dog Festival” that involved boiling thousands of puppies alive, there would be national outrage. It’s time to stop killing animals. ~ Nick Van Tubbergen, Portland

Should Mainers be concerned by shark sightings?

MAINE MONITOR • August 1, 2025

As of July 31 this year, there have been 15 confirmed sightings of white sharks off of Maine’s coast. Those who spot a shark should contact their local harbor masters with the location and time of the sighting. Doing so can help spread awareness and reduce paranoia. Avoid swimming with the bait and remember the ocean is home for sharks. “It’s a sign of a healthy, productive ecosystem, so having white sharks around is a really good thing,” said biologist Kyle Oliveira, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maine and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences.

Opinion: Why Maine lobstermen need an extended pause on new right whale rules

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 1, 2025

Three years ago Maine’s lobster industry was on the verge of shutting down because of a regulatory process that was based on flawed interpretation of federal law and biased modeling that relied heavily on hypothetical threats that fisheries posed to the North Atlantic right whale. One of my proudest accomplishments in Congress was the successful effort in 2022 to enact a moratorium on these regulations until 2028, coupled with additional funding to support right whale research. More time is needed to incorporate the research and data collected during the pause into future right whale regulations. I’m working with my colleague Rep. Nick Begich of Alaska on legislation to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act that would extend the regulatory pause until 2035. ~ U.S. Rep. Jared Golden

Maine offshore wind projects blown away by federal cancelation of plans

ASSOCIATED PRESS • August 1, 2025

Maine will be impacted by the Trump administration canceling plans to use large areas of federal waters for new offshore wind development, the latest step to suppress the industry in the United States. More than 3.5 million acres had been designated wind energy areas, the offshore locations deemed most suitable for wind energy development. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management under Trump is now rescinding all designated wind energy areas in federal waters, announcing on Wednesday an end to setting aside large areas for “speculative wind development.”

Beech leaf disease has hit all 16 Maine counties. What does it mean?

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 1, 2025

A new forest disease identified in Maine just three years ago is now present in all counties, raising concerns among ecologists and wildlife managers as it targets one of the Northeast’s most ecologically valuable trees. Beech leaf disease is caused by a microscopic nematode, a worm, and causes leaves to present with dark banding and curling, eventually causing a dieback from the tips of branches inward to the tree. It’s causing great concerns about beech tree mast, or the production of beechnuts, a source of food for many of the state’s native species including black bears, deer and turkeys. There are no known methods for containing the disease or eradicating it in natural settings. Impacted forests are undergoing ecological transition as dieback opens up forest canopy. “One particular concern would be if invasive plant species proliferate and prevent the healthy regeneration of native tree species.”

Opinion: Maine’s changing climate is making us sick

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 1, 2025

The recent trend of hotter and more polluted summers — Maine’s changing climate is making us sick. Five years ago, I polled physicians in Maine, and 78% said that climate change poses a threat to the health of their patients. Since this study was done, the U.S. has experienced three of its hottest years on record, and 2025 is likely to end up in the top four, so Maine’s clinicians are no doubt seeing even more of these health impacts today. Instead of undermining American science and public health, disinvesting in medical care and emergency response and retreating from our climate leadership roles and obligations, we need to recognize that climate action improves our health, and that is a necessary outcome for all of us. ~ Gail Carlson, associate professor at Colby College, teaches and conducts research on environmental public health

Letter: Peaks Island offers a bird’s-eye view

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 1, 2025

For a few dollars, visitors can drive right onto the Casco Bay Lines car ferry and enjoy the refreshing sea breezes of a boat ride across the bay to Peaks Island. Go up the hill and turn left onto the road that runs down the lee side of the island and on past the yacht club, past Trefethen and to the Pine Landing at the north end of the island. There must have been a building there once, for the foundation remains. It’s there all right. It was left in perpetuity to the birds. ~ Orrin Frink, Kennebunkport

Another change to deer hunting licensing system gives hunters an edge

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 31, 2025

In 2022, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife changed its licensing system to allow deer hunters to apply for a doe tag in addition to their buck-only big game hunting license. This meant that I could shoot a doe and continue to hunt for a buck instead of having a one-and-done deer season. Deer hunters under the age of 16 are allowed to take a doe or buck during the youth deer hunt (Oct. 24-25 this fall). If a young hunter harvests a deer no matter if it is a buck or a doe, they are done for the rest of the season unless they have a doe tag and can continue to hunt for a doe to fill that tag. For the rest of us, this year things are changing again. Hunters in Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs) 21-25 and 29 will be able to take either a buck or a doe with their hunting license, not both. If a hunter in WMDs 21-25 and 29 wants to take both, they will still need a hunting license and an antlerless deer permit. These six districts cover a large portion of the state.

New downtown Portland ambassador program aims to address growing safety, cleanliness concerns

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 31, 2025

In the wake of increased complaints from business owners, a nonprofit organization is dispatching a team to help clean up needles, graffiti and waste, and to respond to calls about loitering and drug use. Portland Downtown is a nonprofit that aims to create a thriving downtown neighborhood.

Biddeford faces a smokestack dilemma as it moves past its ‘Trash Town USA’ rep

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 31, 2025

More than a decade ago, Biddeford tore down the widely despised trash-burning plant that had dominated and degraded its downtown for 25 years. Now, city officials are considering whether the plant’s 240-foot-tall smokestack — a municipal moneymaker that still stands on Lincoln Street — should be transformed into public art and celebrate a remarkable downtown rebound that has occurred in the years since the trash incinerator closed. But while some seem eager to beautify the stack and emphasize its historic role in the city’s development, others loathe that it still towers over downtown as a regrettable remnant of its “Trash Town U.S.A.” reputation. They say it would be a mistake to decorate it.

Farmington boy, stepfather to conquer last of Maine’s 4,000-foot mountains Friday

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 31, 2025

Griffin Chouinard, 10, of Farmington, and his stepfather, Terry Storer, were on their way to Baxter State Park, north of Millinocket, on Thursday morning to hike the last of the state’s 4,000-foot and higher mountains in Maine. They and their dog, Rosie, a walker coonhound, plan to hike North Brother Mountain, a 4,151-footer Friday. Chouinard started hiking the tallest mountains in Maine last year when he was 8. They have documented each hike with photos.

ESPN returns to Maine for Lobster Festival ‘SportsCenter’ segment

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • July 31, 2025

ESPN will be making its second trip to Maine in little over a month, spotlighting the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland as part of its “50 states in 50 days” tour that began in Washington, D.C., on June 27. The sports television giant was also in Newport when Cooper Flagg was drafted by the Mavericks on June 25.

Rangeley Scenic Byway Ambassador program boosted by grant supporting businesses, conservation

SUN JOURNAL • July 31, 2025

Rangeley Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce was recently awarded a $303,150 grant to support the chamber’s Scenic Byway Ambassador Program and other community initiatives over three years. The grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission Catalyst Program was established to strengthen communities and support local businesses. Ambassadors meet and greet visitors at three of the region’s scenic overlooks: Height of Land on Route 17 in Rangeley Plantation, Whip Willow on Route 4 in Rangeley, and on Quill Hill in Dallas Plantation.

A Walk in the Maine Woods

SAIL MAGAZINE • July 30, 2025

We’d been hiking for an hour in Seal Bay on the east side of Vinalhaven. A blaze mark had led us to a 2-mile trail that climbed a steep hillside through firs and birches. It had been a lovely leg stretch—just what we needed as a little break from our Sabre 30, Ora Kali—but when we descended, a wide mudflat devoid of puddles stretched between our dinghy, open water, and our boat resting peacefully at anchor some 400 yards away. We waited an hour and a half for the tide to return. By the time the sun was descending towards the trees across the way and the air was starting to lose its heat, a rill of water finally reached the plank we laid across the mud to bridge the last gap, and we got home in time to watch the full moon rise. Such are the risks one encounters when trying to take advantage of the many hiking trails and paths that Maine’s islands have to offer. They’re more than worth it. 

Friends of Merrymeeting Bay to host walk-and-talk on ‘Insects & Other Natural Wonders’

TIMES RECORD • July 30, 2025

Friends of Merrymeeting Bay will host ecologist Kathy Claerr for a walk-and-talk from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, in Bowdoinham on the topic of “Insects & Other Natural Wonders.” Nonnative invasive insects harm forests through “piercing-sucking,” defoliating, wood boring and disease spreading. For directions and to pre-register, which is necessary, contact Kathy Claerr at 666-3551.

Column: How bucket stockers are destroying Maine’s cold-water fishery

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 30, 2025

There is a monster loose upon the lands and waters of Maine: the Bucket Stocker. Why would any person willfully introduce crappies or bass into a classic Maine trout or salmon fishery? Is it a revenge crime? Do these individuals, in a moment of deluded thinking, fancy themselves as some kind of fishing activists hell-bent on transforming Maine into their own fantasy concept of a diverse fishery? These bucket stockers are a disaster for Maine’s nationally known and priceless cold-water sport fishery. Because of Maine’s vast network of drainages and interconnected waterways, a fish that is invasive — and illegally introduced — can wind up almost anywhere. This is happening in spades. Bass are increasingly being found in formerly pristine trout waters. In Maine, illegal stocking is a Class E crime, with fines ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, and a mandatory suspension or revocation of fishing licenses for one to five years. ~ V. Paul Reynolds