Maine's newest national monument celebrates first season, even without federal funding

MAINE PUBLIC • October 3, 2025

It's a cool, September evening and a crowd had gathered in Newcastle to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Social Security, the landmark federal program that has offered a critical safety net to generations of Americans. But the event, held beneath the post-and-beam timbers of a historic barn located on one of the country's newest national monuments, was as much a celebration of the woman behind Social Security: Frances Perkins. “You'll hear it said that FDR was the author, and like every elected official, he gets the credit, “ said Jim Roosevelt, the grandson of former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, or FDR. "But she was the author who pushed for it, for the strong components of Social Security. Pushed him, pushed the Congress.”

Long-awaited report reveals electrical fault likely caused Brunswick PFAS spill

TIMES RECORD • October 3, 2025

A fault in an electric module likely caused Maine’s largest reported spill of toxic firefighting foam, a new report on the spill’s root cause has concluded. A lengthy and long-anticipated report from Poole Fire Protection released Friday found a fault in a module card — a component of the fire alarm system — likely triggered the discharge of 1,450 gallons of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) concentrate mixed with 50,000 gallons of water into Brunswick Executive Airport’s Hangar 4 on Aug. 19, 2024. The foam released contains a toxic perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) compound, one of several so-called “forever chemicals” that have been linked to serious health problems. The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority in recent months has gotten rid of its remaining stock of toxic foam.

Hopes fade for a quick end to the shutdown as Trump readies layoffs and cuts

ASSOCIATED PRESS • October 3, 2025

Hopes for a quick end to the government shutdown were fading Friday as Republicans and Democrats dug in for a prolonged fight and President Donald Trump readied plans to unleash layoffs and cuts across the federal government. Democrats are running the high-risk strategy of effectively voting for a government shutdown to make their stand. Trump has vowed to make it as painful as possible for them. The Republican president has called the government funding lapse an “unprecedented opportunity” to make vast cuts to federal agencies and potentially lay off federal workers, rather than the typical practice of furloughing them. White House budget director Russ Vought has already announced that he is withholding billions of dollars for infrastructure projects in states with Democratic senators.

Eastport may dredge harbor so large cruise ships can dock

QUODDY TIDES • October 3, 2025

A proposed dredging project off the Eastport breakwater to allow larger cruise ships to tie up at the pier instead of being at anchor in the bay is causing concern in the community — both about possible environmental impacts and about whether the island city is prepared for or wants more cruise ship traffic downtown.

Topsham hunter recalls scary rescue from quicksand-like mud

TIMES RECORD • October 3, 2025

Wednesday afternoon, Matthew Alexander, 31, of Topsham, shot a few ducks while standing on an embankment and went to retrieve them in the coastal mudflat of Maquoit Bay. “I crossed that area 101 times at this point, but I must have misstepped. You know, it felt solid, and it felt solid, and then I hit one spot and it sucked me under,” Alexander said. He suddenly realized he was being pulled under the mud. He couldn’t move to make his way back to shore — and the more he struggled, the deeper he sank. Alexander was able to find his phone in his waders and dial 9-1-1. Brunswick Police Department officers responded in an airboat. It took two officers to pull and break the suction in order to free Alexander and get him on the airboat. The ducks were later retrieved.

Residential wells go dry as drought deepens across Maine

BOOTHBAY REGISTER • October 3, 2025

The ongoing drought of 2025 has deepened across Maine with approximately 319 known residential wells across the state reported to have gone dry. Compare that to a month ago, when a total of 21 dry private wells had been reported. Last week's heavy rain offered a brief respite, but not enough to quench the ground's thirst. To the National Weather Service, as little as six inches above normal rainfall could be sufficient for some locations to end the drought, but the hardest hit areas: "may need as much as 12 inches of rainfall spread out over months to see full recovery. Much of drought-stricken Maine needs 150% of normal precipitation over the next few months to ameliorate drought conditions before the ground freezes."

Maine’s forests and wildlife shine in stunning art and surprising facts

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 3, 2025

Months ago, when I first heard that Maine artist Jada Fitch was releasing a book about her nature observations, I was giddy with anticipation. I’m a huge fan of her work, and this book, in particular, seemed to be especially special. Released in September, “The Forest Revealed: An Illustrated Year” by Jada Fitch, with text by Kateri Kosik, is a celebration of all the things in the Maine wilderness that I find so fascinating — the fungi and flora and fauna — even the slime mold and spiders.

Products denied exemptions from Maine's PFAS ban

MAINE PUBLIC • October 2, 2025

New consumer products containing forever chemicals will be outlawed in Maine next year after regulators denied exemptions for goods including nonstick cookware. The Board of Environmental Protection voted that most items do not qualify for a "currently unavoidable use" of PFAS. The ban goes into effect next year and extends to upholstered furniture, cosmetics, cleaners and other common items. Maine was one of the first states to pass a PFAS products ban. The family of durable synthetic chemicals has been linked to human health problems.

Maine risks drought extending into winter

MAINE PUBLIC • October 2, 2025

Maine's drought is so severe that the state will need far above average rainfall in the next few months to improve conditions before winter sets in, according to a senior hydrologist with the National Weather Service. "A six inch event is not going to cut it, we need multiple events over time," Sarah Jamison told members of the state's Drought Task Force on Thursday. "But we have to pay attention to that window, we have to make sure we get that precipitation before the window closes and before the ground freezes," Jamison added. October and November are typically the wettest months of the year in Maine, with 4-5 inches of rainfall in each month, Jamison said. But the state needs to get far more rain than that to get over the current drought, she added. That means the state really needs at least 19.5 inches — and soon.

Rangeley hiking group sparks social connections, one step at a time

RANGELEY HIGHLANDER • October 2, 2025

The Trails for Rangeley Area Coalition (TRAC) formed in 1995, a product of the Lakes Alliance for Vision and Action Convention. In the early years, participants identified, cleared and maintained trails, in addition to hiking them. Now, the group is more focused on hiking the trails.

Expanded protections for Maine vernal pools, wildlife to get public hearing

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 2, 2025

New proposed rules expanding protections for vernal pools and other at-risk wildlife habitat will move on to public hearings following a Thursday morning review by the Board of Environmental Protection. The proposals from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection update the Natural Resources Protection Act and related permitting standards to reflect recently passed laws requiring DEP to strengthen safeguards for vernal pools and protecting habitats of endangered and threatened species, such as peregrine falcons and spotted turtles.

Duck hunter rescued after sinking to waist in Brunswick mudflats

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 2, 2025

A Topsham man had to be rescued on Wednesday afternoon after he became stuck up to his waist in coastal mud in Brunswick. Matthew Alexander, 31, called 911 shortly after 2 p.m. to report that he was stuck in the mud off Wharton’s Point in the intertidal zone of Maquoit Bay and couldn’t get back to shore. He had shot several ducks from the shore, and when he went to retrieve them he suddenly sank. Brunswick police officers used their department’s Marine Patrol air boat to reach Alexander. It took two officers to break the suction and get Alexander into the boat, according to the department. The ducks were retrieved later.

Owner of former Brunswick garage fined $10K for illegal oil dumping

TIMES RECORD • October 2, 2025

A Brunswick business, 157 Pleasant LLC, a real estate company managed by Stephen Goodrich, will pay the Maine Department of Environmental Protection more than $10,000 after an employee illegally dumped 275 gallons of oil at a former auto dealership and garage owned by the company. A cellphone video taken by a witness showed a forklift driver carried the oil storage tank out of the building at 149 Pleasant St. and flipped the tank over to drain the motor oil before bringing the empty tank back inside. Goodrich hired an excavator to remove 34.5 tons of contaminated soil. Goodrich agreed to pay roughly $10,600 to the DEP, including a fine of $5,000 and $5,600 in reimbursement costs to the department. The employee who was recorded dumping the oil was fired.

Acadia closes Cadillac Mountain’s summit road due to federal shutdown

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 2, 2025

On the second day of the federal shutdown, Acadia National Park has barred visitors from driving up the summit road on Cadillac Mountain, but is allowing people to either walk or bike to the top. The park’s Visitors Center in Hulls Cove was closed Wednesday, but the park’s campgrounds at Blackwoods, Seawall and Schoodic remain open. The majority of Acadia employees have been furloughed during the shutdown, with exceptions made for a small number of staff deemed “necessary to protect life and property.” Eric Stiles, president and CEO of Friends of Acadia, said that parks across the country already have lost 24% of their staff since President Donald Trump took office in January, and that the shutdown is “discouraging” for Acadia’s employees. “This is not an efficient or good way to take care of the national parks,” he said.

14 coastal properties in Down East Maine will be for sale for 1 day only

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 2, 2025

On Saturday, Oct. 25, buyers can purchase any of 14 properties in Jonesport up to four acres large. All but one of those neighboring plots are undeveloped, ready-to-build land. Virginia-based waterfront development company American Land Holdings is selling the properties, which will form a new community in Jonesport called Seaberry Landing. While the offer is the first of its kind for the small coastal town and presents an opportunity for anyone to own a sizable chunk of waterfront property, Michele Johnson, Jonesport’s town manager, hadn’t heard of the offer as of Wednesday. Johnson had reservations about the sale, as she said developers need prior approval before creating a subdivision in the town.

Column: Food shortage may trigger winter bird influx in Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 2, 2025

Last winter was boring in the Maine woods. Food was abundant in Canada, so finches stayed north. I’m excited to report that this year looks very different. The Finch Research Network issued its annual winter forecast this week, and it starts with a bang. “It looks to be a flight year for many species in eastern Canada. With mostly very poor crops in the boreal forest from central Quebec westward to Manitoba, this has the potential of being the biggest flight year since 2020-21.” That winter was awesome. All the northern-breeding finches flooded into Maine. ~ Bob Duchesne

Editorial: Historic conservation project offers new era for Kennebec River

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 2, 2025

it was heartening to hear last week about an agreement to remove dams on the Kennebec River, returning more of the waterway to its natural, free-flowing state, while also seeking ways to support the Sappi mill in Skowhegan, a vital source of jobs for the region. Last month, The Nature Conservancy announced that it was undertaking a $168 million project that would restore more of the central Maine river for fish, including endangered Atlantic salmon. This would restore unfettered access for Atlantic salmon and other seagoing fish from the Gulf of Maine to their historic spawning grounds upstream. It is easy to criticize such a large project and to make assumptions about its outcome, but an open mind, a commitment to working together and patience can lead to a more vibrant river.

Acadia National Park opens to throngs of visitors despite federal shutdown

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 1, 2025

Despite the lack of an agreement in Congress to fund federal operations past the end of September, Acadia National Park remained mostly open on Wednesday. The park’s visitor center in the Bar Harbor village of Hulls Cove was closed. But the Island Explorer bus system and local bicycle rental companies that transport customers and their bicycles into the park were coming and going from the parking lot as usual. The Park Loop Road was open. Rangers were manning the booth at the bottom of Cadillac Mountain’s Summit Road and were making sure visitors had required reservations before driving to the top. A couple who was leaving Acadia Wednesday morning to head back home to New York said it was a shame that the park’s operations would be affected at all by politics. “These parks are for everyone. People plan these trips in advance,”

Maine hunters saw lower success rates in September bull moose season

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 1, 2025

The 2025 September moose hunt was a tough season for many, with all wildlife management zones seeing a decline in harvest numbers compared with 2024. Maine’s moose biologist, Lee Kantar, said during the roughly two- to three-week rut, cows come into and out of estrus in stages, while bulls search for receptive cows. Kantar noted that drought and warm weather likely affect moose movements, feeding behavior and times of activity, and may lead them to use smaller home ranges, staying closer to areas with moisture and green vegetation.

Fact brief: Have billboards been banned in Maine since 1977?

CENTRAL MAINE • October 1, 2025

Billboards have been banned in Maine since 1977, when the Legislature voted to prohibit “off-premises” advertising signs. The law took effect in 1978 and required the removal of most existing billboards within several years. It followed Vermont’s earlier example and made Maine the first state on the East Coast to eliminate highway billboards. There are exceptions. Businesses may still display signs “on-premises,” and Maine law allows certain “categorical signs,” including noncommercial and religious messages. Scenic America, a national nonprofit that tracks billboard laws, says only three other states have statewide bans: Vermont, Hawaii and Alaska. Each state enacted its prohibition decades ago to protect its scenic character.