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addressing food insecurity in the Midcoast
Teen Ag Crew to present to Knox County Food Council
Fri, 01/15/2021 - 3:45pm

The Knox County Food Council ( kcfoodcouncil.com ) invites the public to a virtual gathering on Tuesday, Feb. 2 to learn about youth agriculture addressing food insecurity in the Midcoast. The meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m., with a presentation about the Teen Ag Crew that annual raises 20,000+ lbs. of vegetables in a 4-acre garden at Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s Erickson Fields Preserve, 164 West Street in Rockport. Produce from the teens’ garden supplies hunger relief agencies throughout Knox...
achieving goal of having a permanent fund in every county to support local grantmaking
Steve Rowe to retire from Maine Community Foundation
Thu, 01/14/2021 - 4:45pm

ELLSWORTH and PORTLAND — Steve Rowe, president and CEO of the Maine Community Foundation, will retire this summer. Rowe has led the statewide foundation since 2015. “Steve Rowe arrived with a passion for MaineCF’s mission and has guided us through a very important time in the community foundation’s history,” said Karen Stanley, chair of the Maine Community Foundation Board of Directors, in a news release. “His unwavering commitment to the people of Maine has helped us support critical work to...
scenic and recreational opportunities
Land Trust permanently protects Quigg Island Community Forest
Thu, 01/14/2021 - 4:00pm

LIBERTY — The northern two thirds of Quigg Island in Stevens Pond, the Quigg Island Community Forest, is now permanently protected and is the Georges River Land Trust’s first preserve in the headwaters of the watershed. This region is characterized by the quality of its natural assets, including high water quality, scenic and recreational opportunities, and productive woodlands, all of which contribute to its economic vitality. Within this context, this community forest will be managed to...
Free Building Confidence class offered by New Ventures Maine
Thu, 01/14/2021 - 3:45pm

“Start Your New Year off with a boost in your confidence!” said New Ventures Maine, in a news release. Building Confidence is a free class offered by New Ventures Maine. This class meets by Zoom for three weeks beginning Wednesday, Jan. 20, from 10 - 11:30 a.m. Learn how to set self-care goals and develop insights and practices that truly build your confidence for a better start to 2021. Class description: Whether you are navigating recent changes, looking for a job, starting a business, or...
Permanent lowering of excise tax and collaborative beer are shot in the arm
A glass half full is current state of Maine brewing industry
Thu, 01/14/2021 - 1:15pm

Ten months ago, Maine’s brewing industry came to a screeching halt the day after one of the biggest beer-drinking days of the year, St. Patrick’s Day, when the novel coronavirus pandemic prompted Governor Janet Mills to issue an Executive Order on March 18, 2020 to close all bars and restaurants for a period of 14 days. Back then, for many at the beginning of this unknown pandemic, the assumption was that breweries, bars, and tasting rooms would eventually re-open...
Labor officials provide unemployment benefit updates, including federal changes
Thu, 01/14/2021 - 9:15am

AUGUSTA — For the week ending January 9, the Maine Department of Labor recorded about 3,700 initial claims filed for state unemployment insurance, and 700 initial claims filed for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). In total, approximately 4,150 people were filing an initial claim or reopening their unemployment claim. About 16,900 weekly certifications, or continued claims, were filed last week for state unemployment, with another 15,100 weekly certifications filed under PUA. In...
Vose asks, What makes for a ‘wicked good’ website?
Vose Library receives national grant for small, rural libraries
Wed, 01/13/2021 - 1:15pm

UNION — Vose Library has been selected as one of 200 libraries to participate in “Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries,” an American Library Association (ALA) initiative that helps library workers better serve their small and rural communities. The competitive award comes with a $3,000 grant that will help the library work directly with its patrons and community friends to develop a website that is responsive to its demographics and provide its users with...
Midcoast Maine Indivisible to hold candlelight vigil for democracy
Wed, 01/13/2021 - 1:15pm
Midcoast Maine Indivisible is holding a candlelight assembly, Tuesday, January 19, at 5 p.m., at Park and Main streets, Rockland. "In a time of bloody insurrection, let us gather with peace and positive spirit to honor the past, to share hope for our future, and to stand for democracy now,” the organization said, in a news release. "January 6 was unfortunately not the end of Trump-inspired revolt,” it said. "Federal law enforcement experts expect armed mobs to descend on D.C. one more time on...
Rockland demolition moratorium gives future to city’s historic commission
Tue, 01/12/2021 - 5:45pm

ROCKLAND – One burden has been lessened for the fledgling Rockland Historic Preservation Commission as it continues its work to identify local landmarks within the Downtown District and Tillson Avenue area overlay zone. The measure granted to the commission came with hesitancy by some city officials, who recalled the origin of the request, as well as questioned the measure’s future effectiveness. Monday, Jan. 11, City Council voted 4 – 1 (Louise MacLellan-Ruf dissenting) to enact a 180-day...
Lifejackets for Lobstermen Project works to get PFDs on every fisherman
Tue, 01/12/2021 - 5:45pm

“I wear a lifejacket for my own safety, of course, and most importantly, I wear it for my family and loved ones. Fishing is important, and so is coming back safely.” Captain Stefanie Alley, Islesford From 2000-2016, the Centers for Disease Control charted 204 commercial fishing fatalities from falls overboard. None of the fishermen recovered were wearing a lifejacket, and 108 of the fishermen’s bodies were never found, according to a report of the Lifejacket Project, which was launched...
Ocean State Job Lot distributing PPE to police and fire departments
Tue, 01/12/2021 - 4:00pm

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation has leveraged its global supply chain to provide hundreds of thousands of pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to healthcare organizations and municipalities, a news release stated. In continuation of that effort, the Foundation is currently distributing more than $1.7 million worth of additional PPE to police and fire departments in the 142 communities where Ocean State Job Lot...
More possible overnight road closures in Hampden
Tue, 01/12/2021 - 1:15pm
HAMPDEN — The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing Emerson Mill Road to traffic at the I-95 bridges as needed to accommodate ongoing construction work on the Hampden Bridge Bundle Project. These closures may happen Monday, Jan. 18 and Friday, Jan. 29, between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Road closures will not occur on Saturday nights. The Hampden Bridge Bundle Project involves rebuilding eight bridges and rehabilitating a ninth bridge along a four-mile stretch of I-95 in Hampden. The eight...
learn about Crop Tree Release projects at Hidden Valley
Forest walk at Hidden Valley Nature Center
Mon, 01/11/2021 - 3:45pm

JEFFERSON — Anyone interested in local forestry is invited to attend a Forest Walk on Saturday, Feb. 27, from 12 - 2 p.m., at Midcoast Conservancy’s Hidden Valley Nature Center (HVNC). Walk hosts include HVNC Forester Barrie Brusila, HVNC Co-Founder Tracy Moskovitz, and Midcoast Conservancy Forestry and Lands Manager Tim Libby; participants will join them for a walk during which the hosts will explain the Crop Tree Release projects at Hidden Valley and how they relate to forest health, wildlife...
finish the course with keen awareness of how to evaluate practices and equipment for safety
Registration open for April Chainsaw Safety: Level 1 Course
Mon, 01/11/2021 - 3:45pm

JEFFERSON — Join Midcoast Conservancy, April 17 and 18, for this one-and-a-half day course designed for beginners at Hidden Valley Nature Center, in Jefferson. Most participants have little or no experience with a chainsaw, though this course is also an effective refresher for more experienced individuals who have developed some bad habits with a saw. This is the gateway course to learning more advanced practices, according to the Conservancy, in a news release. The focus of this course is...
Grasshopper Shop supports UMC with gift wrapping donations
Mon, 01/11/2021 - 2:45pm

ROCKLAND – On Friday, December 31, 2020, Sierra Dietz of the Grasshopper Shop of Rockland presented a check to United Midcoast Charities for $1,717.84. The gift represented customer donations of $859 for holiday gift wrapping, matched by a contribution of $859 from the Grasshopper Shop. Each December, the Grasshopper Shop offers volunteers from local schools and nonprofit organizations the opportunity to gift wrap in exchange for donations. In December 2020, Grasshopper Shop employees took over...
Corinna Whitehill started the service while working for Mid-Coast Connector
Corie’s Rides helps community with personal taxi service
Mon, 01/11/2021 - 10:45am

WARREN—It’s been just over a year that Corinna Whitehill started her personal cab company called Corie’s Rides. It’s a service that has been fundamental to the Midcoast community in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic when people are at risk of losing their homes and their cars. Whitehill got her start in the driving business as the owner and a driver for Mid-Coast Connector, a MaineCare non-emergency transportation broker. It’s a service she still operates, along with eight cars and drivers...
Opinionated at any speed
2021 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo Premium AWD
Sun, 01/10/2021 - 8:00pm

The license-plate holder on the car reads, “Feel Alive”—evidently the latest take on Zoom-Zoom, Mazda’s tagline from its “What Do You Drive?” campaign. Which continues, “At Mazda, we believe if it’s not worth driving, it’s not worth building.” This one is worth building, and driving. Think of it as the ride a driver might move up to when maturity beckons and the boxy silhouette of a hot hatch has gotten stale. It’s a five-door sedan, still small, but with a fastback, coupe-ish profile and...
SBA and Treasury announce PPP re-opening, issue new guidance
Fri, 01/08/2021 - 10:15pm

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Small Business Administration , in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced Friday the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers, according to a news release from the Maine Department of Marine Resources. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday, January 11, and Second Draw PPP Loans on...
Islesboro Select Board, Land Trust send strong message to state over two-ton trash spill in Penobscot Bay
Fri, 01/08/2021 - 5:15pm

ISLESBORO — In a Jan. 8 joint announcement, the chair of the Islesboro Select Board, Gabe Pendleton, and the executive director of the Islesboro Islands Trust, Steve Miller, expressed dismay about the recent spill of baled — mostly plastic — trash into waters of Penobscot Bay, and demanded action by the Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection. The Select Board and land trust are urging, “serious sanctions for the accidental but preventable discharge of more than two tons of...
Labor officials provide unemployment benefits update, roll out $300 federal benefit
Thu, 01/07/2021 - 9:30am

AUGUSTA — For the week ending January 2, the Maine Department of Labor recorded about 3,900 initial claims filed for state unemployment insurance, and 250 initial claims filed for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). In total, approximately 4,300 people were filing an initial claim or reopening their unemployment claim. About 15,400 weekly certifications, or continued claims, were filed last week for state unemployment, with another 16,000 weekly certifications filed under PUA. In...
Kate Swayze now certified interior designer
Wed, 01/06/2021 - 2:00pm

ROCKPORT — Kate Swayze, of Phi Builders + Architects, has recently passed her exams to become a certified interior designer. According to the Council for Interior Design, an interior designer passing this exam is defined as "qualified by means of education, experience, and examination, interior designers have a moral and ethical responsibility to protect consumers and occupants through the design of code-compliant, accessible, and inclusive interior environments that address well-being, while...
Rockland Council mandates timeline for McLain Building vacancy
Tue, 01/05/2021 - 6:00pm

ROCKLAND — Kicking the can down the road, and a kid throwing a wallet into the road with a string attached, acting as a lure that yanks away the wallet each time a grab is attempted. Rockland City Councilors used both analogies during the Monday, Jan. 5, agenda-setting meeting to describe a continued impasse regarding the former McLain School. Following a meeting between RSU 13 administrators and two council members, a letter of directive is being devised by the City, mandating that the school...
To see ‘what’s going on’
Lincolnville to meet with two entities — one private, one public — about expanding broadband to all citizens
Tue, 01/05/2021 - 5:00pm

LINCOLNVILLE — The effort to expand broadband capabilities across Lincolnville is gaining traction, and in the words of Select Board member Mike Ray, that technological landscape is “changing fast.” “Lincolnville doesn’t want to find itself behind,” he added. At their recent Dec. 29 meeting, board members discussed current efforts to improve internet service for its citizens. They agreed to schedule two upcoming meetings with other interested parties. The first will be with Debra Hall, chair of...
downtown rockland
New owner purchases 279 Main Street with no plans to demolish former Sears Building
Mon, 01/04/2021 - 3:00pm

ROCKLAND — A proposal to partially demolish the “Sears Building” at 279 Main Street, in Rockland, has been withdrawn permanently. Maine Sport Outfitters, of Rockport, has purchased the building, with plans to open a second branch of its outdoor sporting goods store, according to Rockland City Manager Tom Luttrell, in an email. The closing on the property may occur as soon as tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 5, according to Luttrell. January 5 is the very day the current owner, Crystal Darling and 279,...
Eight grants to be awarded
Camden Rotary grant applications available for Knox County, Lincolnville nonprofits
Mon, 01/04/2021 - 1:15pm
CAMDEN — Nonprofit organizations in Knox County and Lincolnville can apply for Camden Rotary Club grants from now until February 27. This year’s grants will focus on organizations that address basic human needs. “Many people are experiencing deep hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Richard Householder, in a news release. Householder chairs the club’s charitable grants committee. “So we are focusing all of our grants this year on organizations that provide direct help to people in need...
for anyone with nature questions or observations to share
Naturalist to conduct ‘fireside chats’ in January, February
Mon, 01/04/2021 - 1:15pm

There are many interesting things going on in backyards and woodlots, even in the cold of winter, according to Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, in a news release. Trees, birds, and many animals, for example, have adapted to freezing temperatures in fascinating ways. These topics and many more will be the subject of discussion during weekly “fireside chats,” every Tuesday in January and February, from 3 to 4 p.m., with naturalist Sarah Gladu. The programs are free of charge and will take place...
I-295 lane closure in Topsham, Jan. 7
Mon, 01/04/2021 - 1:00pm
TOPSHAM — The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the right-hand, northbound lane of traffic on I-295 at Exit 31 on Thursday, Jan. 7. The lane closure will extend for approximately half a mile, and are expected to occur from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This lane closure is required so crews can clear a culvert to alleviate a flooding issue. “Like all outdoor work, this schedule is weather-dependent,” said said MDOT, in a news release. “Please drive carefully when passing our road crews.” I-...
public access on trails to be developed
Waldoboro man donates 49 acres to Midcoast Conservancy near Clarry Hill Preserve
Mon, 01/04/2021 - 1:00pm

WALDOBORO — On December 23, Midcoast Conservancy accepted a donated conservation easement on 49 acres owned by Jim Doble in Waldoboro. The property is near Clarry Hill Preserve as well as several connected conservation easements. Together these protected lands now total nearly 700 acres protected for wildlife habitat, clean air, and water filtration. “I’ve been thinking about conserving this land for a long time,” said Doble, in a news release. “I want to protect the trees and environment, and...
New Ventures offers free Website Develop and Design Course for Small Businesses
Mon, 01/04/2021 - 1:00pm

New Ventures Maine is launching an online, on-demand Grow Your Business Online course designed to provide small business owners the tools, skills and mentorship to build a successful digital presence. This course is a partnership with the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) and GoDaddy. Grow Your Business Online will be offered beginning January 12 as an on-demand, online format. For participants who desire a facilitated experience, the course will be offered “live” and online in April...
‘I have always been a creative person, and I always feel the need to create’
Northport artist Jason Thurston crafts ‘Shell Ink’ ornaments
Mon, 01/04/2021 - 12:45pm

NORTHPORT — Jason Thurston is a Northport artist, using his drawing skills to draw Midcoast scenery on shells. The idea to create art on shells came a few years ago when Thurston’s wife, Hana, was in the process of making Christmas wreathes to generate some additional holiday income. “We had some clam shells sitting around, and she said, ‘Hey, draw something on those shells. They'd make nice ornaments.’ I think I drew a random lighthouse, the Mount Battie Tower and a lobster boat,” recalled...
Stockton Springs Town Office closed for holidays, ‘keeps the heat on,’ provides winter driving tips
Sun, 01/03/2021 - 2:30pm
STOCKTON SPRINGS — The Stockton Springs Town Office will be closed Monday, January 4 in observance of New Year’s Day and Monday, January 18 in observance of Martin Luther King Day, according to the Town’s January newsletter. Read below for more Town news from the newsletter: - Happy New Year! Cheers to health, happiness, and prosperity in 2021! - The town office is still open as walk-up window service at this time. Please remember to dress warm and expect to wait a little bit for your...
Maine’s new earned paid leave law begins
Fri, 01/01/2021 - 1:00pm

AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Labor is reminding business owners that Maine’s new Earned Paid Leave Law, which ensures employees of businesses with more than 10 employees can earn up to 40 hours of annual paid leave, goes into effect January 1. Maine is the first state to permit using this leave for reasons outside of illness, as long as employees give their employer reasonable notice, according to a news release. Governor Janet Mills signed the Earned Paid Leave Law in May 2019, after...
service employee minimum wage to be $6.08 per hour
Maine’s minimum wage increases to $12.15 per hour
Fri, 01/01/2021 - 10:00am

AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Labor is reminding business owners that effective January 1 the state minimum wage increases from $12 to $12.15 per hour. This increase is pursuant to Maine law (Maine statute 26 MRS 664), which requires annual adjustments to the minimum wage by the cost of living index (CPI-W) beginning in 2021. This follows $1 annual increases to the minimum wage each of the past three years. In addition to the minimum wage itself, the Department has calculated the new tip...
Maine Maritime Academy assists distressed lobster boat off of Cape Rosier
Thu, 12/31/2020 - 11:00pm
CASTINE — On Friday, December 18, Maine Maritime Academy received a call from the U.S. Coast Guard requesting assistance for FV Eastern Star , a disabled vessel off of Cape Rosier in Penobscot Bay. MMA employees Captain Dana Willis, Captain Zander Parker, and Captain Kelly Gunthorpe answered the call quickly. They prepared MMA’s Addy Rae , a former Coast Guard 41’ UTB, gathered a pump, clothing, and other emergency supplies and headed out around noon to locate and assist the...
Markham Starr is a photographer/author and Suzanne Starr is a portrait artist
Husband and wife artists depict lobstering scenes in Maine two different ways
Thu, 12/31/2020 - 7:00pm

COREA—Markham and Suzanne Starr are two different artists inspired by the same source material—the Maine lobstering way of life. In 2011, Markham published a photography book titled Finest Kind: The Lobstermen of Corea , depicting the lives of Corea, Maine, lobstermen. His wife, Suzanne, a nationally recognized award-winning artist, got inspired by those photographs and drew a number of charcoal and graphite portraits of Maine people and places. The couple is from North Stonington,...
Maine Dept. of Labor receives initial federal guidance for federal unemployment extensions
Thu, 12/31/2020 - 4:30pm

AUGUSTA — The U.S. Department of Labor has issued the first of several expected guidance documents that provides overarching implementation information about unemployment insurance (UI) provisions contained in the Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020, which extends federal unemployment programs such as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), according to a news release. Additionally, the legislation reauthorizes and...
Atlas Naturopathic Health Center opens in Rockport, offering preventative medicine, treatment
Thu, 12/31/2020 - 12:00pm

ROCKPORT — Atlas Naturopathic Health Center opens January 4, and is now booking in-person and tele-health visits. Atlas Naturopathic Health Center is the area’s newest natural wellness center. Dr. Alison R Maloof, N.D., offers preventative medicine and treatment of a wide variety of illnesses. She applies a holistic approach to treating the root cause of concerns and maps a unique plan using modern and traditional therapies. The practice said it will provide, “healthcare for...
Labor officials provide Dec. 31 update on unemployment benefits, benefits fraud
Thu, 12/31/2020 - 8:30am

AUGUSTA — For the week ending December 26, the Maine Department of Labor recorded about 2,700 initial claims filed for state unemployment insurance, and 1,800 initial claims filed for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), according to a news release. In total, approximately 3,300 people were filing an initial claim or reopening their unemployment claim. About 13,400 weekly certifications, or continued claims, were filed last week for state unemployment, with another 16,500 weekly...
Gov. Mills extends Maine business curfew indefinitely
Wed, 12/30/2020 - 1:45pm

AUGUSTA — Amid an increase in Maine’s COVID-19 positivity rate and a continued high rate of hospitalizations, Governor Janet Mills announced Wednesday she will extend the requirement for certain businesses statewide to close by 9 p.m. in order to limit activities that could contribute to the transmission of COVID-19. The early closure limits extended indoor gatherings among members of the public, which are activities that present a higher risk of COVID-19 transmission, and does so during later...
delivering fresh produce, dry goods, books, sanitary items, prepared meals
Game Loft expands food program to meet community needs
Wed, 12/30/2020 - 1:15pm

BELFAST — To meet the expanded needs caused by the Covid-19 pandemic the Game Loft/I Know ME has increased its food program. For the past 20 years the Game Loft has provided free meals after school to any young person who came to the Game Loft facility on weekdays or Friday evenings. Since March of this year meals have been provided on a grab-and-go basis seven days a week. In August, Game Loft/I Know ME vans began delivering care packages of fresh produce and dry goods, along with books and...
Upcoming series of online job fairs for Maine employers
Tue, 12/29/2020 - 1:15pm
The Maine Dept. of Labor has arranged a series of online job fairs for early 2021, where employers in various industries can meet and interview potential workers. To register a business for the appropriate job fair, email Leo.J.Deon@maine.gov . There is no cost to participate. Here is a list of the planned events: January 14, 2021 Virtual Maine CareerCenter Virtual Hiring Event for Remote/Work from Home Employment January 21, 2021 Virtual Maine CareerCenters Virtual Hiring Event for Hospitality...
New attorney joins Penbay Estate Planning Law Center
Mon, 12/28/2020 - 6:00pm

CAMDEN — Penbay Estate Planning Law Center, located in Camden, has announced the addition of Eric Lyerly to the firm as an associate estate planning attorney. Lyerly holds a bachelor’s degree cum laude from the University of Alabama and Juris Doctor from Stetson University. He was admitted to the Maine Bar in December with a ceremony in the Knox County Court House. Lyerly moved to Midcoast Maine in early 2020 from Florida. He lives with his wife and three children in Northport. “I was drawn to...
shining a light on the good work of these nonprofits
West Bay Rotary donates over $6,000 to local nonprofits
Mon, 12/28/2020 - 1:00pm

On Saturday, December 26, 2020, Lucky the Duck and West Bay Rotarian Ray Fink presented checks in the amount of $2,003.30 each to representatives of Camden Area Christian Food Pantry, One Less Worry, and the Shields Mission Project. The club raised over $6,000 over the last month by selling Lucky’s Christmas Vacation raffle tickets. The prize of seven nights at the Vanderbilt Beach Resort in Naples, Florida was donated by the resort, and Lucky also presented the prize to winner Leni Gronros on...
As Maine officials implement new federal unemployment legislation, benefits delayed a week
Mon, 12/28/2020 - 12:15pm

AUGUSTA – With President Donald Trump signing bipartisan COVID-19 relief legislation, extending federal unemployment programs Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), the Maine Department of Labor is reviewing the legislation and working to implement the changes as quickly as possible, the organization announced in a news release. “The PUA and PEUC programs ended on December 26. This interruption in the programs will cause at least a one...
Opponents plan to appeal Belfast Planning Board approvals, as well
State approval of Belfast salmon farm is appealed; city Planning Board OKs project
Sun, 12/27/2020 - 10:30am

BELFAST — While Belfast City Hall and the privately-held Nordic Aquafarms, Inc., announce the Dec. 22 Belfast Planning Board approval of Nordic’s indoor salmon raising venture, opponents have filed appeals of state permit approvals in the Superior Courts of Kennebec and Waldo counties. Those opponents also commit to appealing the Belfast Planning Board’s Dec. 22 approval to the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals. That is the first step in municipal process that citizens who dispute governmental...
opinionated at any speed
2021 Acura TLX SH-AWD Advance
Sun, 12/27/2020 - 9:30am

Knowing that Acura is Honda’s upmarket brand, you might expect its re-designed and re-engineered new TLX to be a plush and whisper-quiet “mature” sedan—a Lexus by another name, perhaps. But you’d be wrong. And possibly surprised. In fact, Lexus, worried that its cars are “boring” to driving aficionados, might follow Acura’s lead: This TLX “delivers precision-crafted performance to premium sports sedan enthusiasts.” The maker also calls it “simply the best performing, best handling and most well...
European Union trade victory for Maine lobster clears final hurdle
Wed, 12/23/2020 - 6:30pm

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, in a news release, welcomed the finalization of the agreement to eliminate tariffs on live and frozen American lobster, which will help to substantially boost sales of Maine lobster to European markets. The deal was solidified following President Trump signing a proclamation. Senator Collins strongly advocated for this agreement and raised the concerns of Maine’s lobster industry directly to the White House and U.S. Trade Representative Robert...
Labor officials provide unemployment figures, fraud update, unemployment compensation plans
Wed, 12/23/2020 - 6:15pm

AUGUSTA — For the week ending December 19, the Maine Department of Labor recorded about 2,950 initial claims filed for state unemployment insurance, and 1,900 initial claims filed for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). In total, approximately 3,700 people were filing an initial claim or reopening their unemployment claim. About 14,300 weekly certifications, or continued claims, were filed last week for state unemployment, with another 18,200 weekly certifications filed under PUA...
Rep. Doudera’s ‘Travolta’ holiday novella generates funds for two charities
Wed, 12/23/2020 - 4:00pm

On Tuesday, United Midcoast Charities and Midcoast Habitat for Humanity received holidays gift from author and State Representative Vicki Doudera when she presented them with checks totaling $2,500. The money is the net proceeds from sales of Doudera’s novella, Looking For Travolta: A Ghost Story of Christmas. The story is a modern Maine retelling of Dickens’ famous A Christmas Carol , set in a fictional town bearing an uncanny resemblance to Camden. Inspiration for the book...
$2.6 million grant boosts Goodwill Northern New England’s Workforce Solutions
Free job services available to Mainers affected by opioid
Wed, 12/23/2020 - 3:45pm
Hundreds of people affected by the opioid crisis in Maine are beginning to receive much-needed help through a $2.6 million grant from the United States Department of Labor. Hoping to help more people this winter, Workforce Solutions is seeking more participants for these free job services, according to Goodwill Northern New England, in a news release. “The opioid crisis has had severe impacts on workers nationally and Maine is no exception,” said Antoinette Mancusi, executive director of...

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‘Fishers Are King’ webinar with Kirk Gentalen

Event: Tue, Feb 2 - 12:00 pm
Workforce Development series: Mid-Coast School of Technology programs, new facility

Event: Tue, Jan 26 - 12:00 pm
Teen Ag Crew to present to Knox County Food Council

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Black Studies in 21st Century Higher Education talk with Sanchez, Bracey

Event: Thu, Jan 28 - 6:00 pm
'Being Black in Maine' to livestream on Martin Luther King Day

Event: Mon, Jan 18 - 5:00 pm
‘Domestic Violence 101’ talk with Jesse Lucas

Event: Thu, Jan 28 - 6:00 pm
Camden Conference presents Charles Lagerbom, ‘Maine Whaling: To the Arctic and Beyond’

Event: Thu, Jan 28 - 6:00 pm
Camden Rotary peacebuilder club to host pre-inauguration talk: Courageous conversations

Event: Tue, Jan 19 - 12:00 pm
Online Winter Horticulture Series begins with Jan Limmen, bulbs, tuberous plants

Event: Tue, Jan 26 - 9:30 am
David Yarborough to present little-known facts in the ‘History of Maine’s Wild Blueberries’

Event: Tue, Jan 26 - 6:30 pm
Darlin’ Corey to perform free Camden Opera House livestream

Event: Fri, Jan 22 - 7:30 pm
The Literary Salon: Paul Doiron

Event: Sun, Jan 17 - 2:00 pm
Virtual Maine history talk with Liam Riordan

Event: Thu, Jan 28 - 6:30 pm
Midcoast Maine Indivisible to hold candlelight vigil for democracy

Event: Tue, Jan 19 - 5:00 pm
Dancing Elephant offers half-day meditation retreat via Zoom

Event: Sun, Jan 24 - 9:00 am
The Science of Extreme Candy: A Tasty Learning Event

Event: Tue, Jan 26 - 6:00 pm
Belfast’s 25th Arts in the Park planned for June

Event: Sat, Jun 26 - 10:00 am
Merryspring talk: Pinniped Populations in Maine's Coastal Waterways

Event: Tue, Jan 19 - 12:00 pm
Zoom with Vose talks ‘What’s Brewing: Craft Beer Today’ with Bill Stinson

Event: Wed, Jan 20 - 6:00 pm
Forest walk at Hidden Valley Nature Center

Event: Sat, Feb 27 - 12:00 pm

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