Poland citizen initiative puts 6-month pause on solar farm project

SUN JOURNAL • June 26, 2026

A proposed solar electric generation facility in Poland will have to wait after residents voted to put a six-month moratorium on all commercial solar projects. The project proposes a .999-megawatt array covering about 6.5 acres across 21 abutting properties. It would be managed by PE Copernicus LLC of Yarmouth, a subsidiary of a North Carolina-based solar company. The project was given the green light Feb. 10 by the Poland Planning Board and sent to the Select Board for final approval. At a March 3 Select Board meeting, residents registered concerns, which included the speed of the project and environmental impact. The same day, the Select Board voted 3-2 against a moratorium on commercial solar projects. Residents began circulating a petition to put the moratorium up for a townwide vote under a citizen initiative. On Election Day, residents voted 761-611 in favor of the moratorium.

Column: A Maine guide’s summer fishing report: What anglers can expect

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 26, 2026

It’s finally here — summer. We’re almost through June, and the best fishing across Maine is happening right now. Stripers are pushing into the state, hatches are in full swing and fish are feeding on the surface. Remote ponds are on fire as Hexagenia hatches begin — the hatch that makes big brook trout stupid. The smallmouth fishing this year has been outstanding, and we’ve landed some of the biggest bass I’ve seen in my 23 years of guiding. ~ Kevin McKay

Everything first-time visitors should know about Baxter State Park and Katahdin

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 26, 2026

There’s a lot to know about visiting Baxter State Park. So much so, it can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first trip. First of all, the park is huge. It takes more than two hours to drive from one end to the other. The park’s website has so much information that there’s really no reason to be unprepared. The first time I went, I knew all the locations, estimated travel times and the more difficult trail sections to watch out for. But if you’re not a planner and want as much information in one spot as possible, here’s some of the most pertinent information to know before visiting.

Volunteers pedal people with disabilities along Acadia’s carriage roads

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 26, 2026

MDI Wheelers, a Tremont-based nonprofit that grew out of a cycling group after three husbands — two who had strokes and one diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease — developed mobility limitations decided to find a way to keep riding together and have since offered dozens of people with disabilities a chance to ride Acadia National Park’s historic carriage roads. MDI Wheelers, which began in 2021, is meeting a growing need in Acadia. As the park’s visitation count continues to rise — more than 4 million visits were recorded last year — some of those visitors are people with different mobility needs. MDI Wheelers are not the only way people with disabilities can enjoy the park. The park’s free shuttle service, the Island Explorer, is wheelchair accessible. The park also has a wheelchair-accessible horse-drawn carriage.

Most of Maine is no longer in drought, but dry conditions linger along coast

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 25, 2026

Drought conditions are continuing to improve in Maine. Most of the state was not in drought as of Thursday, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, though coastal areas remain in a moderate drought or under abnormally dry conditions. It’s a notable improvement from mid-June, when much of interior Maine was still under dry or drought conditions, with only the northern part of the state spared from any designation. It’s an even greater step forward since early May, when all of the state was considered to be at least abnormally dry. Only southwestern York County remains under severe drought conditions.

Windjammers want more Mainers to take schooner staycations

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 25, 2026

The annual Windjammer Days in Boothbay Harbor was one stop on a six-night voyage for a number of the nine vessels that tour overnight passengers up and down the coast, a tradition that dates back nearly 100 years. This season, some schooners are offering discounts to in-state residents, hoping to attract more locals to a uniquely Maine experience. This year, the nine vessels in the Maine Windjammer Association are offering discounts of between 10% and 40% for Mainers on certain trips. “There are tons of people who think tourism on the coast is just for tourists,” said Maine Windjammer Association manager Jenny Tobin. “We take people away from the tourists out into the beautiful islands.”

Internal memo tells national parks not to report deaths

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 25, 2026

Officials at Acadia National Park may stop reporting deaths in the park. A U.S. Department of the Interior internal memo obtained by the Washington Post instructs staff at national parks not to confirm deaths or provide details about severe injuries on park property. Park staff are only allowed to confirm “that an incident occurred.” Communication from Acadia is in decline. The park has responded less frequently to media queries the past two years, and since late last month has not had a designated spokesperson.

Elevated bacteria levels close swimming areas in Raymond, Scarborough and Rockland

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 25, 2026

More than 10 swimming areas in Maine are closed due to elevated bacteria levels, including nine beaches and Tassel Top Park on Jordan Bay in Sebago Lake in Raymond and Chickawaukie Lake in Rockland. Elevated bacteria advisories have been issued for nine beaches (Broad Cove Reserve in Cumberland, City Park and Heritage Park in Belfast, East End Beach in Portland, Ferry Beach in Scarborough, Laite Beach in Camden, Lincolnville Beach in Lincolnville, Mackerel Cove in Harpswell and Riverside in Ogunquit) due to bacteria levels being above the EPA recommended threshold of 104 parts per billion. Those nine beaches are still open, but people are cautioned to swim at their own risk.

Maine Outdoor Film Festival, July 21-26

MAINE PUBLIC • June 24, 2026

The Maine Outdoor Film Festival’s signature flagship event returns to Portland July 21 to July 26 and Maine Public is very pleased to be a Media Sponsor. This year’s MOFF lineup features 97 films from 11 countries, including 18 Maine-made films. Screenings take place throughout Portland—indoors each day at local theaters and outside each night under the stars at our open-air theatre, complete with a 24-foot inflatable screen (BYO chair and picnic!).

Durham gravel pit owner fined $15K as part of agreement with town

SUN JOURNAL • June 25, 2026

The Durham Select Board on Tuesday approved an administrative consent agreement that fines a gravel pit owner $15,000, requires a $100,000 reclamation bond, and imposes travel restrictions on the business’s vehicles. The agreement comes after numerous complaints by neighbors led the town to issue a stop work order May 7 to Brunswick Trucking/Jaiden Landscaping for digging and extraction work that exceeded the 5-acre parcel permit for its gravel pit at 1104 Hallowell Road. The work also had “slight” encroachment on to natural resource buffers.

Stories of First People come alive in ‘Dreamcatcher,’ at Chesterville meeting house

LIVERMORE FALLS ADVERTISER • June 25, 2026

Stories of Grandmother Spider, Coyote and Crow will take the stage July 11 when performance artist and story keeper Leland Faulkner presents “Dreamcatcher” at the Chesterville Center Union Meeting House. The 7 p.m. all-ages performance will combine magic, mime, music and regalia to bring traditional tales and magical adventures from the First People to life.

2 men rescued from Katahdin after becoming trapped in severe thunderstorm

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 25, 2026

Two men, Dakota Cunningham, 35, of Richmond, Virginia, and Sean Rowan, 35, of Chesterfield, Virginia, were cleared to climb Katahdin and left the Chimney Pond Campground at 5 a.m. Wednesday. Conditions worsened during their ascent, and by 2 p.m., they were confronted with a severe thunderstorm, according to Baxter State Park Director Kevin Adam. The hikers were caught in the storm on a section of the mountain known as the “Flat Iron,” which is a difficult climb even for expert hikers. As the storm worsened into rain, hail, high winds and lighting, Cunningham and Rowan became hypothermic and dehydrated. At around 6:45 a.m. Thursday morning, the Maine Army National Guard search crew located the hikers, and airlifted them off the mountain. They were taken to the Millinocket Regional Hospital for necessary treatment.

US Supreme Court hands win to Monsanto in case related to claims Roundup causes cancer

MAINE MORNING STAR • June 25, 2026

State courts cannot find liability for labeling shortcomings in pesticides and related products because such products are covered by federal law, the U.S. Supreme Court said Thursday in a decision backing agricultural giant Monsanto. The justices, in a 7-2 decision, threw out a $1.25 million verdict a Missouri court awarded to a man who said long-term use of the weedkiller Roundup caused him to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. The herbicide, produced by Monsanto, does not include any warning of carcinogenic material and Monsanto and parent company Bayer deny there is any link.

Some Versant Power customers can expect to see lower bills in July, company says

NEWS CENTER MAINE • June 24, 2026

Some Versant Power customers can expect to see lower bills starting on July 1, according to a press release from the company. The change is due to lower distribution and conservation rate changes in the Bangor Hydro District and the Maine Public District, the company said Thursday.

Is New England’s new hydropower transmission line paying off?

MAINE MORNING STAR • June 25, 2026

When the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line started carrying electricity from Canada into Maine in January, supporters hailed the project as a triumph for renewable power. Now, after nearly six months of operations, the early numbers raise questions about whether the project will be able to advance the region’s energy transition as much as advertised. Energy flow into New England is up just marginally, and there have been roughly 27 days when no power at all traveled along the new line, commonly called NECEC. If current trends hold, New England will receive less hydropower this year over two transmission lines than it did over just one line in 2023 and previous years.

Opinion: A federal proposal puts Maine’s scientific research in peril

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 25, 2026

Maine is a small state with a large scientific footprint. Across the state, nearly 10,000 people work in the life sciences, at roughly 600 institutions or businesses. Maine’s life sciences sector is growing faster than other job areas and contributes $2.3 billion to our economy. This growth was built on a foundation of federally funded research. That foundation is now under threat, and Maine has a lot to lose. A recent policy proposal from the White House would transform longstanding federal regulations that propel discovery-driven research, fundamentally weakening the pipeline that produces America’s most important scientific advances. This proposal will sow uncertainty in the research conducted in Maine, which has supported thousands of jobs statewide. Now is the moment for Sen. Susan Collins to demand that the White House withdraw this proposal. ~ Elisabeth Marnik,The Evidence Collective

You’re missing one of Maine’s finest stretches of north woods

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 25, 2026

Recently, at the urging of my son Josh, I revisited a few of the many trout ponds north of Eustis. It was still early in the season for that country, but a light hatch of Dark Hendricksons was underway. Good memories come flooding back on trips like that. Aside from the trout fishing, this area remains a feast for the eyes. The Flagstaff watershed stretches for miles, while Bigelow, Spencer Mountain, Sugarloaf and other prominent peaks provide a magnificent backdrop beyond the paved highway, which leads to Coburn Gore, Benedict Arnold’s Chain of Ponds and eventually the Canadian border. Like the famed Rangeley Lakes region to the west, with its rich sporting history and celebrated figures such as Carrie Stevens and Herb Welch, the Eustis area has a heritage of its own if you take the time to look for it.

Letter: Orrington trash plant a blight on nearby communities

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 25, 2026

The trash plant in Orrington is a blight on our communities. Living only a half mile from the facility, we have been subjected to consistent light and air pollution with little benefit to the community to offset these concerning issues. The fire in 2024 caused many of us in the area to suffer from respiratory problems. The recent fire didn’t last nearly as long, but again we were greatly affected by the onslaught of dangerous smoke. Something needs to be done to guarantee our health and safety and that of our neighbors. ~ Toni Thompson, Orrington

Aroostook nature center is a hidden gem for summer fun

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 24, 2026

For parents wondering what to do with the kids home all summer, there is a little known nature and discovery center tucked away off a Hodgdon dirt road that is packed with free outdoor adventures. The Twin Ponds Nature and Discovery Center, celebrating its 10th year, might be one of Aroostook County’s best kept secrets. Sara McQuarrie, the center’s founder, said the center aims to give kids and families up-close nature adventures that could spark the next generation of conservationists.

Acadia balances invasive plant’s popularity with ecological damage

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 24, 2026

While lupines are celebrated as one of Maine’s most iconic blooming flowers — showcased on Acadia National Park souvenirs and the centerpiece of the beloved children’s book “Miss Rumphius” — the park has spent years balancing their popularity with the ecological threat they pose as one of many invasive species in Acadia. But, unlike many invasives targeted by the park’s invasive management team, lupines are only managed when they encroach on at-risk species or significant natural habitats like wetlands or summits, according to the park service.