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Tuesday, December 31, 2019

January 13: Family Movie & Pizza Night at Thomaston Public Library

Thomaston, Maine - Join Thomaston Public Library on Monday, January 13 at 5:00 pm for our Family Movie & Pizza Night! Free and open to all, and pajamas are welcome. We're thrilled to show Abominable this month!


When teenage Yi (Chloe Bennet) encounters a young Yeti on the roof of her apartment building, she and her friends, Jin (Tenzing Norgay Trainor) and Peng (Albert Tsai), name him "Everest" and embark on an epic quest to reunite the magical creature with his family at the highest point on Earth. But the trio of friends will have to stay one step ahead of Burnish (Eddie Izzard), a wealthy man intent on capturing a Yeti, and zoologist Dr. Zara (Sarah Paulson) to help Everest get home.


Abominable is rated PG for "some action and mild rude humor" by the MPAA. The runtime is 97 minutes.


All films for Family Movie & Pizza Night are shown with closed captioning. To RSVP or for more information, please visit the library’s Facebook page at www. Facebook.com/ThomastonPublicLibrary, or contact us at (207) 354-2453 or at programs@thomaston.lib.me.us.

YEAR ONE: Expanding Health Care, Strengthening the Economy & Protecting the Environment - First Year of Governor Mills’ Administration Forges Progress for Maine

YEAR ONE: Expanding Health Care, Strengthening the Economy & Protecting the Environment - First Year of Governor Mills’ Administration Forges Progress for Maine
December 31, 2019

During the first year of Governor Janet Mills’ Administration, more than 56,000 people gained access to critical health care, the State unveiled its first strategic economic development plan in more than two decades, and Maine led in embracing clean, renewable energy to grow the economy, protect the environment and fight climate change.

With the end of her first year in office drawing to a close, Governor Mills released the following statement:

“Campaigning across the state in 2018, I met countless people worried that they would never be able to afford high-quality health care. I met parents worried they may lose their child to the scourge of addiction. I met small business owners worried they may have to shut their doors because they can’t find workers. I met students worried about their future because of the threat of climate change.

“I heard them and vowed to chart a new, better direction for our state. In this last year, I believe we

Brunswick Parking Ban - 1:30AM to 7:00AM on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020

The Town of Brunswick has declared a parking ban from 1:30 AM to 7:00 AM on Wednesday, January 1, 2020, to facilitate snow removal. This parking ban is for all town roads and municipal parking lots, including the Recreation Center.
For those needing overnight parking, the Cabot Street lot has been designated for use during parking bans. The lot is located on the corner of Cabot Street and Maine Street near Fort Andross. You may park overnight in this lot only and you must your vehicle from this lot by 7:00 AM the next morning.

Map of Cabot Street Parking Lot

Open House - Town of Kittery & Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) - January 7, 2020

Kittery, Maine - The public is invited to join the Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) project team for an Open House on January 7, 2020 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Kittery Community Center - Star Theater, located at 120 Rogers Road.  

The Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) is a collaborative planning effort between the Town of Kittery, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission to protect and preserve military readiness and defense capabilities while supporting continued community growth and economic development. For the past 12 months, the JLUS team has investigated a variety of issues, including traffic congestion, transportation services, housing, land use and economic development, with the input of many stakeholders, local and regional representatives and the public.  Over 40 short and long term strategies have been identified.
The project team wants to hear YOUR THOUGHTS on these strategies and the final report.  The recommendation from this report will impact the future of PNSY, Kittery, and the entire region. Your voice is important and all are welcome to attend.  A presentation will be shared at both 3:30 PM and 5:30 PM at the Open House on January 7, 2020.
The draft report will be available soon, both on the Town of Kittery's project page, which can be found by clicking here, and SMPDC's project page, which can be found by clicking here.

Rockland Public Library -- 3D Snowflakes, Jan 9th

Creative Art Crew: 3D Snowflakes

Thursday, January 9th from 3:45 – 4:45 PM

Rockland, Maine - Join Miss Katie and learn how to make 3 different kinds of 3D hanging snowflakes to decorate your home for the season. Come, relax, and craft. Create a snowy wonderland using just paper, scissors, and glue! 

This program is adults & children. This program is free.

Creative Art Crew meets every 2nd Thursday of the month.

All State Offices Closed Tuesday, 12/31

Due to heavy snow and mixed precipitation expected, all State Offices will be closed on Tuesday, December 31.

Citywide Parking Ban Declared Tuesday, December 31 at 10:00 PM through 6:00 AM Wednesday, January 1

A Citywide Parking Ban has been declared beginning Tuesday, December 31 at 10:00 PM through 6:00 AM Wednesday, January 1. Vehicles left on City streets after 10:00 PM can be towed at the owner’s expense. 
**IMPORTANT NOTICE** Due to New Year's Eve festivities, the City will not tow from the downtown district until after 2:00 AM. 

PARKING BAN INFORMATION
The City offers numerous free options for parking on the peninsula during a snow ban. These lots are available after 5:00 PM on weekdays on the day a ban is called unless otherwise posted. Click here for an interactive map. School lots and unrestricted parking areas can be accessed earlier on weekends/when school is not in session. All vehicle owners must remove their vehicles from these designated areas listed below by 7:00 AM (except for school lots, which are 6:30 AM) the morning the ban is removed. The City may tow, at the owner's expense, any vehicle which has not been removed by the 7:00 AM deadline:
  • Deering Oaks - on the Tennis Court Road only - only on the left side of the road. No parking on the right side.
  • Fitzpatrick Stadium parking lot - this is the lot behind the Ice Arena. Do not park adjacent to the Ice Arena.
    Hadlock Field parking lot
  • All Portland Public School parking lots except the Reiche School lots that abut the school and playgrounds/soccer field and pool on Clark St AND Brackett Street. *Must be out by 6:30 AM.
  • Cutter St. lots (off the Eastern Prom)
  • Beach St. lot accessible from Commercial St. after 8 PM.
  • City lot at the corner of Park and Commercial streets across the street from the 
    IMT (International Marine Terminal) AKA Angelo's Acre 441 Commercial St.
  • On Peaks Island, snow ban parking is available at the Welch St. parking lot
  • Western Prom - Bowdoin to West Street (waterside)
  • Eastern Prom - Turner to East End School property light pole 33 (waterside)
  • Marginal Way - Plowman to just before the entrance area to the East End Wastewater treatment Plant (waterside) ** Please do not park on Marginal Way if there is flooding or standing water. **Parking is not allowed in the Maine DOT park and ride lot.
  • Preble Street Extension Parking Lot (Across from Hannaford) - adhere to the spaces that are designated for snow ban parking.
  • State Street Extension - Parking is available on State St Ext between Forest Ave & Park Ave across from the entrance to Deering Oaks Park. Left side of the road only where parking is typically available. Adhere to any no parking signs closest to Forest Ave.
Most parking garages will be available during snow bans at reduced rates.
Vehicles must be out of these alternate parking lots by 7:00 AM (unless otherwise noted) the morning the ban is lifted.
Public Works Customer Service: 207-874-8493 (24 hours during winter!)
Parking Ban Hotline: 207-879-0300

Monday, December 30, 2019

Allagash Wilderness Waterway Rangers Report Good Ice Conditions

T6 R11 WELS, Maine – Rangers on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW) are reporting good ice conditions on the larger waterway headwater lakes. Rangers were out checking the ice thickness on December 29, 2019. They found 8 to12 inches of good ice on Telos Lake, Round Pond, Chamberlain, Allagash, and Churchill Lakes. The ice thickness could be inconsistent, so Rangers advise ice fishermen to use caution when heading out to fish this weekend. 
"The south end of Chamberlain Lake skimmed over for the first time on December 1," stated Matthew LaRoche, AWW Superintendent. "However, the middle of the lake did not freeze until the third week of December."
Rangers will be out checking the ice in the upcoming days. Current ice conditions will be posted on the Conditions and Alerts page on www.maine.gov/allagash. Visitors should stop at the Chamberlain Bridge Ranger Station for up to date information on ice conditions or call the waterway dispatch service in Ashland at (207) 435-7963. Anyone with sporting camp reservations is advised to check with camp operators before heading out on the ice.
Rangers are urging people to check the ice as you go out, and not to assume the ice is safe if you see a snowmobile track going out across the lake. 
AWW staff are warning all visitors to stay away from thoroughfares and avoid tributary streams when traveling on the ice. Everyone heading out to fish this weekend should tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return. The best plan of all is to take a buddy with you.
“We usually have a good crowd out ice fishing on the first weekend of the season,” LaRoche said, referring to the upcoming ice fishing season, which starts Sunday, January 1, 2020. “The native brook trout fishing is usually excellent when the season first opens.”
The AWW provides winter campgrounds at the Chamberlain Bridge and Kellogg Brook, public drinking water, vault toilets, and snow plowing. A groomed snowmobile trail is marked from the Chamberlain Bridge parking lot to the south end of Chamberlain Lake and to Round Pond/Telos Lake.
The AWW is a 92-mile-long ribbon of lakes, ponds, streams and river, that wind through the heart of northern Maine’s vast commercial forest. The waterway became the first state-administered river to be designated by the United States Department of Interior as a component of the federal Wild and Scenic River Program. This designation was the culmination of an effort that began in the early 1960s, to protect the outstanding natural character, unique recreational opportunities, and historical significance of the Allagash River and its associated lakes and ponds.
For more information about the AWW, go to www.maine.gov/allagash

Rockland Public Library -- Reading Room Concert with John and Rachel Nicholas

Rockland, Maine - Rockland Public Library will host a concert by duo John and Rachel Nicholas in the historic Reading Room on Thursday, January 16 at 6:30pm.


John and Rachel Nicholas have been making music together for more than 30 years. Their compelling songs are anchored in the history of folk, roots, and popular music and tell stories that are deep and true. Their soulful harmonies have been described as singing “with one voice.”


John and Rachel’s most recent EP, ‘House of Dreams,’ was released in August 2016 and spent a total of seven weeks on WERU’s most played CDs. From their previous release, ‘Here You Are,’ their songs ‘People Like Us’ and ‘America, It’s You’ were both award winning entrants in The Great American Songwriting Contest in 2009.


Since moving to Midcoast Maine in 2012, John and Rachel have become known for hosting a music series at Harbor Square Gallery as well as for their collaborative band, The Lowdown, with fellow singer-songwriter David Dodson. They have also become regular features at the Sweet Chariot Music Festival. They have shared the stage with Dave Mallett, Patty Larkin, Chris Smither, Paul Sullivan, Mary Gauthier and many others throughout New England.


Their duo performance at Rockland Public Library will provide an opportunity to hear a 60 minute program of high caliber original acoustic songs in an intimate setting.

January Programs at the Southern Midcoast CareerCenter

BRUNSWICK, Maine — The Southern Midcoast CareerCenter, part of the Maine Department of Labor, together with its partners, offers many services to help people find employment or upgrade skills and employers to find qualified workers.

Most services/events are provided on a walk-in basis. Others may require appointments or pre-registration in person or by phone at (207) 721-8200 unless a different number is listed.

The following services and programs are available at no cost to the public.

Career Directions —Explores your career interests, aptitudes, values, personality, motivation and how

January 8 - UMA Offers ‘On-the-Spot Admit Day’ at Locations Statewide for Spring 2020 Enrollment

The University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) will be offering an “On-the-Spot Admit Day” January 8, 2020 from 10 am to 6 pm at locations statewide.


Locations include Augusta, Bangor, Brunswick, East Millinocket, Ellsworth, Houlton, Lewiston, Rockland, Rumford, Saco, and South Paris. To find a location near you visit: https://www.uma.edu/locations/


UMA admissions representatives will be available to help recent high school graduates, transfer students, and returning students complete their application; take a placement test (if needed); start the financial aid process; enroll in spring classes; and register for New Student Orientation all in one visit. Transfer students can also receive an unofficial transfer evaluation.


There are many financial scholarships available for both new and returning students, and tuition waivers are available for high school juniors and seniors as well as senior citizens. Everyone who attends and registers for a class will be placed in a drawing for a $1,000 scholarship! There is no application fee and students should bring official copies of transcripts if possible. (Interested students can also schedule an advising appointment at a different day and time if needed.)


The Spring Semester at UMA starts January 21, 2020 so this is an ideal time to learn more, apply, and register for classes. To find the UMA location closest to your home or work, or to register for the event, visit uma.edu/onthespot or just stop in to your local UMA campus or center. 


The University of Maine at Augusta has been a leader in providing access to a cost-effective and quality education since 1965. With campuses in Augusta and Bangor, nine centers from Saco to Houlton, more than 30 additional course sites, and many programs available completely online, UMA is uniquely equipped to support students throughout Maine.  Find out more at https://www.uma.edu/.

All State Offices to Close at 3:00 PM, 12/30

Due to a worsening mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain impacting travel, all State Offices will be closed at 3:00 PM on Monday, December 30, 2019.

Friday, December 27, 2019

Governor Mills Directs Flags Lowered in Honor of Representative Arthur "Archie" Verow

Governor Janet Mills directed that the United States and State of Maine flags be flown at half-staff this Monday, December 30, 2019 at the State Capitol and in the City of Brewer in honor of former State Representative Archie Verow. Services will be held on Monday, December 30 at 11:00am at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. John's Catholic Church in Bangor. A reception will follow at the parish center.

"The State of Maine has lost a cherished friend and a deeply devoted citizen who spent his life in service to his neighbors," said Governor Mills. As we mourn the loss of Representative Verow, we remember his commitment to community, we honor his tireless advocacy for children and seniors, and we love, as he did, the people of Maine with humor and humility. My thoughts and prayers are with Archies family and friends, the people of Brewer, and his colleagues in the Legislature during this difficult time. He will be dearly missed.

Belfast City Hall will be closing ...




Belfast, Maine - City Hall, and all other non-emergency Departments (including the Transfer Station), will be closing at 1:00 pm Tuesday, 31 December, 2019 and all day Wednesday, 1 January, 2020 in celebration of the New Year.

Proposed Senior Tax Assistant Program First Read

Gray, Maine - Notice is hereby given that the Gray Town Council will hold a first reading on January 7, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. at the Henry Pennell Municipal Complex, 24 Main Street, Gray, Maine, to receive public comments on a proposed Senior Property Tax Relief Program Ordinance.  The ordinance can be viewed on the Town's website at graymaine.org/ordinances or contact the Town Manager at 657-3339 for more information.

Deborah S. Cabana
Town Manager

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Rockland Community Ice Rink Has Water, Icing Up


Rockland, Maine - On this Christmas Eve, the community ice rink has water, starting to ice over in Rockland, Maine.

This will be a great place for families to spend time together when it is completely frozen over.

There are picinic tables for those wanting to enjoy watching their friends, family members ice skating.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Sunday Salon with artists featured in Temporality

Rockland, Maine — The Center for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA) invites the public to attend the second in a series of Sunday Salon gallery talks related to the exhibition "Temporality: The Process of Time," on January 5 at 3pm. Presenters will include exhibiting artists Caleb Charland, Clint Fulkerson, and Kate Russo. Each artist will share images and discuss how they use time as a material in their work.

Exploring ideas of repetition, duration, and process, the exhibition "Temporality | The Process of Time," looks at how contemporary artists are using time as a means of making. The exhibition explores the question of what is time, and how do we measure and give value to it? One certainty is that artists need time to make their work and viewers need time to look. In a society that’s constantly on the move, the artists included in the exhibition are asking the viewer to slow down and consider the relevance of time as material.

Caleb Charland (Brewer, ME) uses the photographic process to question visual possibilities within the natural laws of the world. His practice is based in wonder, a state of mind somewhere between knowledge and uncertainty.

Clint Fulkerson (Portland, ME) creates drawings that are the result of contemplating the relationships between space, time, matter, and energy. His murals are created using pre-determined limitations and visual analogies.

Kate Russo (Portland, ME) explores the use of color as narrative in her paintings. She borrows the color palettes of well-known, historical artists in an effort to convey an artist's character through color.

Sunday Salons are free to CMCA members, others with admission. Participants are encouraged to stay following the talk for refreshments and further discussion. The next Sunday Salon in the series will take place on January 26, 2020. For more information, please visit cmcanow.org.

January ArtLab for All Ages at CMCA

Rockland, Maine — The Center for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA) invites artists of all ages to take inspiration from the current exhibition, Temporality: The Process of Time to create their own original works of art during this month’s ArtLab for All Ages workshop on Saturday, January 4, from 2 to 4pm.

In this second in a series of ArtLab workshops related to the Temporality exhibition, participants will look to previous works of featured artist Astrid Bowlby and work collaboratively on a collage installation. Using paper, ink and scissors to create numerous cut-outs and illustrations to make an installation in our ArtLab - documented by a time-lapse video. Experiment with improvisation, accumulation, and collaboration!

ArtLab for All Ages takes place on the first Saturday of every month at CMCA, 21 Winter Street, Rockland. ArtLab is offered free of charge and open to all through the support of Wells Fargo, The Bob Crewe Foundation, The Cricket Foundation, First National Bank, Fisher Charitable Foundation, Margaret E. Burnham Trust, Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust, Nellie Leaman Taft Foundation, Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation, and individual donors.

Maine Joins Other States in Promoting New Year's Day Hikes

AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine State Parks is encouraging people to begin 2020 with a focus on healthy lifestyles by participating in the America's State Parks First Day Hikes program on January 1. State parks in all 50 states are participating in providing guided hikes.

In Maine, five state parks are participating. Maine State Parks staff and volunteers will lead hikers along trails that will showcase the beauty of Maine. The distance and the difficulty of the trails vary from park to park, but the hikes are designed to benefit the entire family.

###Maine's 2020 First Day Hike Locations and Details:

####Bradbury Mountain State Park

**Date**: January 1

**Time**: 10:00 a.m.

**Location**: 528 Hallowell Road, Pownal, Maine; Meet at the upper parking lot. **Description**:

Belfast City Hall Holiday Hours

City Hall will be closed on the following dates/times:

Tuesday, December 24th - Closing at 1:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 25th - Closed all day

Wednesday, January 1st - Closed all day

Have a safe and joyful holiday!

BABY SHARK LIVE! COMING TO PORTLAND’S MERRILL AUDITORIUM ON JUNE 10, 202

PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE NOW

PORTLAND, ME- Parachute Concerts LLC announced that “Baby Shark Live!” will stop at The Merrill Auditorium on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 for one show at 6:00 pm.

Public tickets are on sale now at www.PortTIX.com and the Venue Box Office (during normal business hours).

The exciting state-of-the art live show is based on Pinkfong’s viral earworm and global dance phenomenon,‘Baby Shark’. This one of a kind concert experience will delight fans of all ages as Baby Shark joins up with his friend Pinkfong to take an adventure into the sea, singing and dancing through new and classic songs including Five Little Monkeys, Wheels on the Bus, Jungle Boogie, Monkey Banana Dance and of course, Baby Shark! The Fall tour leg of Baby Shark Live! was a smash hit with sold out performances across the country. During its 6-week run, the show was seen by nearly 100,000 fans.

What: BABY SHARK LIVE!

When: Wednesday, June 10, 2020 - 6:00 pm

Where: Merrill Auditorium - Portland, ME

Admission: $29/$39/$49 + venue/processing fees. VIP Meet & Greet Packages are available

Purchase: www.PortTIX.com, and the Merrill Auditorium Box Office.

Attorney General Frey sues Castle Builders, Inc. for deceptive and unfair business practices

AUGUSTA, Maine - Attorney General Aaron M. Frey announced today that he has filed a civil action in the Knox County Superior Court on behalf of the State against Castle Builders, Inc., its owner Malcolm I. Stewart, and his wife Elizabeth J. Stewart for alleged violations of the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction against the Defendants that will prohibit them from soliciting or contracting with consumers for home construction services in the State of Maine, restitution for consumers who suffered financial loss caused by their unlawful practices, civil penalties and attorney's fees.

"This is a particularly egregious example of a business using deceptive marketing to take advantage

Grant Will Aid PAE in SupportingParticipation of Hard-to-Count Communities in 2020 Census

PORTLAND, Maine – The Maine Census Outreach Fund 2020 (MCOF 2020) has awarded 14 nonprofits with grants to support the participation of hard-to-count communities in the upcoming 2020 Census. Grant-funded activities will include outreach through community events, adult education programs – including Portland Adult Education – and phone banks. Some organizations will offer on-site computer labs for completing Census forms. 

Among the 14 nonprofits receiving grants is the Maine Adult Education Association, of which Portland Adult Education (PAE) is a member. PAE’s share of the grant money is $1,000, which it will use to fund outreach efforts to assist Portland community members to participate in the Census, said PAE Executive Director Anita St. Onge.

“Getting an accurate Census count will be critical for Portland to receive the much-needed data and

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Husson University Students to Demonstrate Their Final Augmented Reality App Projects

Poster and App Presentations are Part of an Integrated Technology Course Devoted to Creating iOS Apps with an Intro to ARKit

BANGOR, MAINE – December 19, 2019 – Students in Husson University’s integrated technology program enrolled in the “IT 499 Topic/Creating iOS Apps with an Intro to ARKit” course will be presenting their posters and demonstrating the augmented reality (AR) apps they developed on Friday, December 20, 2019 from 8 – 10 am in the G. Peirce Webber Campus Center in Peabody Hall on the University’s Bangor Campus. iPads will be available for people to try out the apps. 

“This demonstration will allow students in our

Additional Guests Announced for Hot Stove Dinner & Silent Auction Lau and Speier join Michael Chavis

Portland, Maine - The Portland Sea Dogs have announced additional guests to the annual Hot Stove Dinner & Silent Auction on January 15th at the Portland Sheraton at Sable Oaks. The event begins at 5:30 PM and benefits the Maine Children's Cancer Program.

Sea Dogs Pitcher Adam Lau and the Boston Globe's Alex Speier will join featured guest Red Sox infielder and former Sea Dog Michael Chavis.

Tickets for the event are $80.00. Reserved tables of ten are available for $750.00. Tickets can be purchased through the Sea Dogs ticket office by calling 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com. The event is expected to sell out.

Doors open at 5:30 PM with the Silent Auction running from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. A buffet dinner will be served at 6:30 PM and the program will begin at 7:00 PM. The program will consist of conversations with each guest hosted by Sea Dogs' radio broadcaster Mike Antonellis.

Lau has made 71 relief appearances with the Portland Sea Dogs the last two seasons, picking up a Double-A high seven saves in 2019. On April 25th, 2019, Portland threw the 4th no-hitter in franchise history, as LHP Kyle Hart (6.2 IP), LHP Daniel McGrath (1.1 IP), and Lau (1.0 IP, save) combined to strike out nine batters in a 2-0 win.

Additionally, in '19, Lau made his Triple-A debut with Pawtucket, working in five games/one start from May 24-June 10. In 2018, he went 0-4, 4.13 ERA in a team-high 36 games with the Sea Dogs, and earned his first Double-A save on April 14th vs. Binghamton.

Lau was a 37th round pick by the Boston Red Sox in the 2015 June Draft after attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Adam was on the 2015 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Watch List, leading UAB in ERA and saves.

Speier has been covering sports for the Boston Globe since 2015, with most of his time devoted to the Red Sox beat with additional coverage of the Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins. Before joining the Globe, he covered the Red Sox for several outlets, including WEEI.com, the New Hampshire Union Leader, Boston Metro, and the Boston Herald.

Speier is the author of "Homegrown: How the Red Sox built a championship from the ground up." The book was released on August 13th, 2019.

The Sea Dogs open the 2020 season on the road in Hartford, CT on Thursday, April 9th. The home opener is set for Thursday, April 16th at 6:00 PM against the Trenton Thunder (Yankees). Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com. Book your nine-inning vacation!

CMS awards funding to Maine to combat opioid misuse among expectant mothers

CMS announces Maine as participant in initiative to addresses opioid misuse among expectant and new mothers

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it selected Maine as one of ten awardees for the Maternal Opioid Misuse (MOM) Model.

Maine also selected Maine General Medical Center, MaineHealth, MidCoast Parkview Hospital Behavioral Health Division, Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems (Northern Light Health), Penobscot Community Health Care, and Pines Health Services as their care-delivery partner(s) to implement the Model. The MOM Model is the next step in the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation’s (Innovation Center) multi-pronged strategy to combat the nation’s opioid crisis. The Model addresses fragmentation in the care of pregnant and postpartum Medicaid beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD) through state-driven transformation of the delivery system surrounding this vulnerable population. By supporting the coordination of clinical care and the integration of other services critical for health, wellbeing, and recovery, the MOM Model has the potential to improve quality of care and reduce costs for mothers and infants.

“The MOM model is a unique opportunity for healthcare providers in Maine to improve care for mothers and infants affected by the opioid crisis, and the model represents another step in President Trump’s agenda to combat the opioid crisis through holistic, compassionate treatment and recovery services” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “The model is aimed at promoting more coordination and integration of care, and we look forward to assessing the results of Maine as they work to support some of the most vulnerable mothers and their infants.”

The primary goals of the model are to:
  • Improve quality of care and reduce expenditures for pregnant and postpartum women with OUD as well as their infants;
  • Increase access to treatment, service-delivery capacity, and infrastructure based on state-specific needs; and
  • Create sustainable coverage and payment strategies that support ongoing coordination and integration of care.

The MOM Model will have a five-year period of performance beginning in January 2020 with three different types of funding. Specifically, Implementation Funding, Transition Funding, and the opportunity for Milestone Funding will be provided in three distinct model periods: Pre-implementation (Year 1), Transition (Year 2), and Full Implementation (Years 3-5).

Care delivery will begin in Year 2, or the Transition Period, of the Model. During this year, funding for care-delivery services that are not otherwise covered by Medicaid will be provided by Innovation Center funds. By Year 3, the start of the Full Implementation Period, states must implement coverage and payment strategies. This overall structure seeks to balance rapid model initiation and state flexibility, while minimizing administrative burden. In particular, the MOM Model design supports each awardee’s ability to quickly begin delivering coordinated and integrated care to pregnant and postpartum women with OUD during the Transition Period, while supporting states in developing a long-term coverage and payment strategy that aligns with their state Medicaid program.

For additional information about the MOM Model, including a fact sheet and a list of participants, please visit: https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/maternal-opioid-misuse-model/

U.S. Senator Susan Collins’ RAWR Act to Crackdown on Wildlife Trafficking and Terrorist Regimes Included in Year End Spending Package

U.S. Senator Susan Collins’ RAWR Act to Crackdown on Wildlife Trafficking and Terrorist Regimes Included in Year End Spending Package

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate passed a massive $1.4 trillion year-end spending package with a series of animal protection provisions, several championed by U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME). The Rescuing Animals With Rewards (RAWR) Act, S. 1590, led by Collins and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), was included, and Collins joined a bipartisan group of Senators in championing language to maintain the ban on horse slaughter in the U.S. that was included in the final package as well. The President is expected to sign the measure into law this week.

The RAWR Act would amend the State

Monday, December 9, 2019

Wreaths Across America Makes Its Way Through Rockland


Rockland, Maine - Wreaths Across America made it's way through Rockland, Maine as they track to Arlington Cemetery on Sunday, December 8th, 2019.

The wreath-laying is still held annually, on the second or third Saturday of December. WAA's annual pilgrimage from Harrington, Maine to Arlington National Cemetery has become known as the world’s largest veterans’ parade, stopping at schools, monuments, veterans’ homes and communities all along the way to remind people how important it is to remember, honor and teach.

You can learn more by going to WreathsAcrossAmerica.org













Tuesday, December 3, 2019

All State Offices Closed Today, Tuesday, 12/3

UPDATE: All State Offices Closed Today, Tuesday, December 3, 2019
December 3, 2019
In light of worsening weather conditions, Governor Janet Mills has directed that all State of Maine offices be closed today, Tuesday, December 3, 2019:

“With the snowfall intensifying and winds growing stronger in the coming hours, driving conditions will only become more difficult and dangerous,” said Governor Janet Mills. “Given the severe inclement weather, I have directed state offices closed for the day. I urge all Maine people to avoid driving if possible and, for those who must, I urge you to do so with caution and to provide ample space to our road maintenance crews and first responders as they work to clear and keep our roads safe.” 
Due to worsening weather conditions, all State Offices will be closed today, Tuesday, 12/3/2019.

Citywide Parking Ban Declared TONIGHT, Tues, Dec 3 at 10:00 PM

Citywide Parking Ban Declared Tuesday, December 3 at 10:00 PM through 6:00 AM Wednesday, December 4


PORTLAND, Maine -- A Citywide Parking Ban has been declared beginning Tuesday, December 3 at 10:00 PM through 6:00 AM Wednesday, December 4. Vehicles left on City streets after 10:00 PM can be towed at the owner’s expense. 

Because this is the first major storm of the season, it is imperative for our plow crews to be able to plow as close to the curb line as possible.

PARKING BAN INFORMATION

The City offers numerous free options for parking on the peninsula during a snow ban. These lots are available after 5:00 PM on weekdays on the day a ban is called unless otherwise posted. School lots and unrestricted parking areas can be accessed earlier on weekends/when school is not in session.

All vehicle owners must remove their vehicles from these designated areas listed below by 7:00 AM (except for school lots, which are 6:30 AM) the morning the ban is removed. The City may tow, at the owner's expense, any vehicle which has not been removed by the 7:00 AM deadline:

  • Deering Oaks - on the Tennis Court Road only - only on the left side of the road. No parking on the right side.
  • Fitzpatrick Stadium parking lot - this is the lot behind the Ice Arena. Do not park adjacent to the Ice Arena.
  • Hadlock Field parking lot
  • All Portland Public School parking lots except the Reiche School lots that abut the school and playgrounds/soccer field and pool on Clark St AND Brackett Street. *Must be out by 6:30 AM.
  • Cutter St. lots (off the Eastern Prom)
  • Beach St. lot accessible from Commercial St. after 8 PM.
  • City lot at the corner of Park and Commercial streets across the street from the 
  • IMT (International Marine Terminal) AKA Angelo's Acre 441 Commercial St.
  • On Peaks Island, snow ban parking is available at the Welch St. parking lot
  • Western Prom - Bowdoin to West Street (waterside)
  • Eastern Prom - Turner to East End School property light pole 33 (waterside)
  • Marginal Way - Plowman to just before the entrance area to the East End Wastewater treatment Plant (waterside) ** Please do not park on Marginal Way if there is flooding or standing water. **Parking is not allowed in the Maine DOT park and ride lot.
  • Preble Street Extension Parking Lot (Across from Hannaford) - adhere to the spaces that are designated for snow ban parking.
  • State Street Extension - Parking is available on State St Ext between Forest Ave & Park Ave across from the entrance to Deering Oaks Park. Left side of the road only where parking is typically available. Adhere to any no parking signs closest to Forest Ave. 

Most parking garages will be available during snow bans at reduced rates.

Vehicles must be out of these alternate parking lots by 7:00 AM (unless otherwise noted) the morning the ban is lifted.

Public Works Customer Service: 207-874-8493 (24 hours during winter!) 

Parking Ban Hotline: 207-879-0300