Speaking Before the Arctic Circle Assembly, Governor Mills Pledges to Work with Arctic Nations to Combat Climate Change, Strengthen Economy

Reykjavik, ICELAND- In an address before the Arctic Circle Assembly Friday, Governor Janet Mills reaffirmed Maine’s partnership with Arctic nations and pledged Maine’s help in combating climate change, strengthening trade relationships, and exchanging cutting-edge research to diversify and expand Maine’s economy.

“Today I proudly lead the largest delegation ever from the State of Maine to this esteemed Assembly — business leaders, college presidents, researchers, policy makers, arts and cultural leaders — They come here because they understand that Maine is part of the Arctic Circle, that what happens in the Arctic Circle affects our state, and the actions the State of Maine takes affect the Arctic Circle,” Governor Mills said in her remarks.

“Whether built by sailors navigating shared seas or students, industry or ideas, music or

Chef Kerry Altiero Next Talking Food in Maine Special Guest

Photo: Chef Kerry Altiero
Damariscotta, Maine - Damariscotta’s Lincoln Theater is pleased to welcome, from Café Miranda, Chef Kerry Altiero as “Talking Food in Maine: Intimate Conversations” next special guest. Talking Food in Maine is a free series in which host Cherie Scott explores in depth Maine’s culinary scene and the people who make it happen. Chef Altiero will join Cherie on the Lincoln Theater stage Thursday October 24 at 7 PM.


Kerry Altiero is the chef and owner of the iconic and award-winning restaurant Café Miranda in Rockland.  He is also the author of the cookbook “ Best Comfort Food On the Planet,” which will be available for purchase and signing during the evening. He has received numerous culinary accolades in the last 26 years,( in the biz for 29 if that matters) including being named the 2015 Down East Magazine “Maine Chef of the Year.” He has also been recognized by the Maine Lobster Council as “Lobster Chef of the Year,” by Harvest on the Harbor Top of the Crop as “Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant,” and was recently named Hospitality Maine’s 2019 “Chef of the Year.” Altiero also works with several community organizations focusing on kids, food security, homelessness, and addiction and recovery. In addition, Café Miranda has been recognized as an Environmental Leader by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Back in 2000, Altiero launched Headacre Farm, located in Owl’s Head, and in 2020 will launch his second location, Bar & Lounge, in Rockland.


Host Cherie Scott was born in Mumbai but now calls Maine her home. In 2015, she launched her culinary blog, MumbaitoMaine.com, to share her signature recipes and nostalgic anecdotes of her youth in Mumbai while also celebrating the beauty of Maine and its gastronomic talent. Cherie is the creator and host of Mumbai to Maine's six-part television series in development with award-winning director Ryan Leighton and cinematographer Cody Mitchell. Cherie recently curated a six-part culinary series on regional Indian cuisine offered exclusively at the Stonewall Kitchen Cooking School in York, Maine.


Don’t miss this opportunity for an intimate conversation with Kerry Altiero, Thursday October 24 at 7 PM. And mark your calendars for upcoming guests; Kathy Gunst, author and resident chef of NPR’s Here and Now - Thursday November 21, Leigh Kellis of the Holy Donut - Thursday February 13, and Luke Holden & Ben Conniff of Luke’s Lobster - Thursday March 12. The “Talking Food in Maine” series, presented in partnership with King Eider's Pub, Maine Coast Inn and Eat Maine Magazine, is free and open to the public.  Additional information can be found by calling the theater at 563-3424.  Lincoln Theater is located at 2 Theater Street in downtown Damariscotta.

Fall Pruning Workshop at Merryspring

Event Location: Merryspring Nature Center, Camden/Rockport, Maine

Event Date/Time: Saturday, November 2, 10 am – 12 pm

Photo Caption: Arborist Travis Hamilton leads a Fall Pruning workshop on November 2

Camden/Rockport, Maine - Arborist Travis Hamilton will lead a fall pruning workshop at Merryspring Nature Center on Saturday, November 2 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Late autumn is a good time to prune trees, but each tree is different. Hamilton's outdoor class is a comprehensive tree care program. It is designed to teach beginners how to select good pruning tools, which trees can be pruned in fall, how to avoid preventing spring blooms, and how to promote new growth in the following year. Travis will also speak about pruning and tool safety, the need for tree inspections, and what exactly is urban forestry.

This is an outdoor program. Guests should wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes.

Hamilton is the owner and operator of ArborTech in Searsmont. He has been working with trees since 2001, and since 2005 has climbed trees competitively in both the Maine Climbing Competition and the New England Climbing Competition. Travis is the 2014 Maine state Champion Tree Climber. He aims to make safety and care paramount to his tree work.

This program is part of the Weekend Workshop series sponsored by Camden Real-Estate Company. The cost for this class is $10, with a discounted rate of $5 for members of Merryspring.

Merryspring is your community nature center offering walking trails, cultivated gardens, wildlife, and ecology and horticulture educational programs all year round. The park is located at the end of Conway Road, just off of Route 1 in Camden behind Hannaford Shopping Plaza. For more information on this program please contact info@merryspring.org or call 207-236-2239.

Absentee Ballots for the November 5, 2019 Election are Available

Absentee ballots for the November 5, 2019 State Referendum & Muncipal Election are available. There are several ways for you to request an absentee ballot. You can do so by;

• Filling out an application and mailing it in to the City Clerk's office
• Calling our office at 333-6600 (we will need to speak to each voter individually)
• Submitting an electronic request https://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl  
• Voting in person in the City Clerk's office

The statewide deadline to request an absentee ballot is Thursday, October 31, 2019. Our normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am until 4:30 pm, however we will be offering extended hours on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 and will be open from 8:00 am until 7:00 pm to allow additional time for residents to register to vote, or to request an absentee ballot. 

All absentee ballots must be received back in the Clerk's office no later than 8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

For more information, please contact the Office of the City Clerk by calling 333-6600.

Town of Lovell now offering Rapid Renewal Service

**Residents can now renew vehicle registrations online**

AUGUSTA - Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap has announced that the Town of Lovell has launched Rapid Renewal, the Department of the Secretary of State's online service for the renewal of motor vehicle registrations.

Rapid Renewal is an e-commerce service allowing citizens to conduct business with municipal government and state government in one seamless online transaction. Rapid Renewal has gained national acclaim and Mainers have enthusiastically embraced it. While municipal participation in Rapid Renewal is optional, the service has now grown to 257 municipalities and has seen more than 1,833,876 transactions processed to date. The Town of Lovell will accept payments via e-check and credit card. Residents can continue to visit the town office to pay in person, but now also have the option of conducting these transactions online.

The Rapid Renewal service is currently offered by cities and towns from York County to Aroostook County, with populations ranging from Glenwood Plantations three citizens to more than 64,000 in Portland. Through Rapid Renewal, citizens can quickly and easily renew their vehicle registrations and pay their municipal excise taxes online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Rapid Renewal may be accessed through https://www.maine.gov/sos/online_services/index.html , the Secretary of States site for online services.

Municipal officials who would like more information about participating in Rapid Renewal are encouraged to contact the Department of the Secretary of State at 626-8400.

Gorham Middle School Teacher Named 2020 Teacher of the Year

Gorham, Maine – In an all-school assembly today at Gorham Middle School, the Maine Department of Education and Educate Maine named alternative education teacher Heather Whitaker Maine’s 2020 Teacher of the Year.

During her 18-year teaching career at Gorham Middle School, Heather has been a true advocate for combining learning opportunities with the needs of the community. She started her school’s garden, which donates over 800 pounds of produce for the local food pantry each year. She also was a founding member of the Gorham BackPack Program, which provides students in her community, experiencing chronic hunger, with food over the weekend. Her alternative education students are active volunteers for both programs. Just recently, this program was awarded a $25,000 State Farm Community Assist grant.

Heather is passionate about and experienced in using restorative practices and experiential learning. She believes in the power of relationships and that learning should be meaningful to students. Whenever possible, Heather takes students out of the classroom and has them engaged in the community.

Heather graduated from Boston College in 2000, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with Moderate Special Needs. She later earned her Master of Science in Literacy Education at the University of Southern Maine.

Heather’s biggest love is her family. Her husband, Marc, son Trent, and daughter Maeve inspire her daily. She loves hosting friends at her house, can be found in the mountains skiing during the winter, and is proud to be a “Maine-ah.”

She was nominated by her former principal, Robert Riley, who stated “because of her innovative, can-do nature, her refusal to give up on any student and her selfless contributions to our school community and to her students, I believe Heather is an excellent candidate to represent all that is good in our educational system.”

Heather was selected from a pool of more than 300 teachers who were nominated by a member of their community earlier this year, she was then named the 2019 Cumberland County Teacher of the Year, and then later named one of three State finalists before being named the 2020 Teacher of the Year today.

The Teacher of the Year Program is a year-long process that involves educator portfolio and resume submissions, interviews, oral presentations, and classroom visits made by a selection panel comprised of State Board of Education members, school administrators, Maine Department of Education staff, former Teachers of the Year, and other Maine business partners.

As the 2020 Maine Teacher of the Year, Heather will travel throughout the state and country collaborating with other educators to support the efforts underway to prepare all students for college, work, and civic life. She will be Maine’s representative in the National Teacher of the Year program which includes a national forum with other State Teachers of the Year, a week at a NASA Space Camp, and a visit to the White House.

The Maine Teacher of the Year program is administered by Educate Maine, a business-led advocacy organization, in partnership with the Maine Department of Education and the Maine State Board of Education. Funding for the program is generously provided by Bangor Savings Bank, Dead River, Geiger, Hannaford, Maine Lottery, and Pratt and Whitney.

For more information about the Maine Teacher of the Year program, visit www.mainetoy.org.

Rockland Public Library--- Halloween Hootenanny, Oct 16th

Halloween Hootenanny

Wednesday, October 16th from 3:45 – 4:45 PM

Enjoy Rockland Public Library’s Children’s Halloween Party!

Join Miss Katie for three silly Halloween stories and many MONSTER-ous crafts.

Costumes are encouraged; you know Miss Katie will be wearing one!

South Portland, Tackling Safety Problems with City Streets, Intersections, and Crosswalks (for Voting Districts 3, 4 and 5)

Date: 10/30/19
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: South Portland High School Cafeteria, 637 Highland Avenue, South Portland
FMI-Phone: 2076234511
Help make South Portland's streets safer! Let's take the first steps together to tackle our city's most dangerous streets, intersections and crosswalks! Join us to address the recent spike in pedestrian/vehicle crashes. Share your thoughts and get reflective safety gear!

Sanford, Installation of Overhead Signage at the Routes 109, 4, and 4A Intersection Roundabout

Date: 10/15/19
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Sanford City Hall, City Council Chambers, 919 Main Street, Sanford
Please join MaineDOT to discuss the installation of overhead lane use signage at the roundabout located at the intersection of Routes 109, 4 and 4A.

MaineDOT will present information about the project and will listen to concerns and answer questions.

Accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities. Please call in advance to request auxiliary aids.

**TTY users dial Maine Relay 711.**

**Work Identification Number: 022974.00**

For more information: Jerry Dostie, Project Manager. Phone: 207-624-3457. E-mail: Gerald.p.dostie@maine.gov

Maine Reports Four Additional Cases of Lung Illness Related to E-cigarette Products

Governor Mills Directs Stepped Up Checks at Retailers

AUGUSTA – The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today reported four additional cases of lung illness related to e-cigarette products, bringing to five the total number of cases in the state.

Similar cases have been reported in 45 other states and one U.S. territory. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 12 deaths in 10 states, as well as more than 800 hospitalizations, have been attributed to the lung illness, as of September 26, 2019.

The Maine cases involve one youth and four adults. Most of the cases were treated at hospitals in Cumberland and York counties, and one case was treated in Aroostook County.

Governor Mills has directed Maine CDC to work with the Maine Office of the Attorney General to pursue increased compliance checks on e-cigarette purchases at retailers throughout Maine to prevent sales to youth. Maine already conducts these checks on both electronic and combustible cigarettes but will boost the focus on e-cigarettes.

Maine classifies e-cigarettes as tobacco products, which means it's illegal for anyone younger than 21 to purchase them. The state also already bans all online sales of e-cigarette products and licenses tobacco product sellers to ensure oversight.

"As a Tobacco 21 state and with robust [//www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/press-release.shtml?id=1542303]youth prevention and compliance measures in place, Maine is already committed to protecting our residents from the harmful effects of e-cigarettes," said Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew. "But we must do all we can to keep these products out of the hands of Maine youth, as well as discourage use among adults."

"The use of e-cigarettes poses short-term and long-term health risks," said Maine CDC Director Nirav D. Shah. "If you don't use e-cigarettes, don't start. If you do, we recommend that you stop."

No deaths from this illness have been reported in Maine. The cases in Maine, which were reported between the second week of August and the end of September, involve patients who all exhibited symptoms similar to those identified in other states. Symptoms have included cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, and fatigue.

No specific e-cigarette product or substance is linked to all cases. As in other states, most Maine patients reported a history of using e-cigarette products or smoking materials containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in cannabis. Other patients reported using both THC and nicotine, while a third group reported using e-cigarettes containing only nicotine.

Maine passed a law this year to tax e-cigarettes like combustible tobacco products, in part to help fund prevention and cessation programs. Last month, a [//www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/press-release.shtml?id=1470616]law prohibiting the use of vaping materials at all Maine schools, on school buses, and on other school property took effect.

"Maine has been a leader in addressing public health risks associated with tobacco use and vaping," Director Shah said. "Regardless of whether you are using e-cigarettes for tobacco, cannabis or flavoring, you are inhaling something that could harm your lungs. And we must remember that smoking regular combustible cigarettes remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States."

The Maine CDC offers the following recommendations:

• If you vape and have symptoms of lung illness, see your health care provider.
• If you are a health care provider and suspect a case meets the lung illness criteria, call 1-800-821-5821 or email disease.reporting@maine.gov. Please do not include personally identifying patient information.
• Schools needing policy or education assistance related to e-cigarettes/vaping may contact a local tobacco prevention provider [//ctimaine.org/resources/local-prevention-partners/]ctimaine.org/resources/local-prevention-partners/.
• Learn more about e-cigarettes in [//preventionforme.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ENDStoolkit.Final-5.13.19.pdf]this toolkit.
• If you've never smoked or used other tobacco products or e-cigarettes, don't start. If you use these products, help is available.

Free support to quit or help someone quit:

Phone: Call the Maine Tobacco HelpLine at 1-800-207-1230 to talk with a quit coach.
Web: Visit [//thequitlink.com/]thequitlink.com for support, whether you are ready to quit or just thinking about it.
Support includes developing a plan to quit, texts, advice, and a supportive community of tobacco users who have quit.
Text: [//www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html]The Truth Initiative offers free text message programs for youth and young adults who want to quit vaping or smoking. It presents content by age group to give appropriate advice about quitting. It is also a resource for parents looking to help their children.

• Text Quit to 202-804-9884 to quit JUUL or e-cigs.
• Text QUITNOW to 202-759-6436 to quit cigarettes.

For more information:

• U.S. CDC updates on lung disease associated with vaping [//www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html]www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html
• Additional resources: [//ctimaine.org/resources/ends-vaping/]ctimaine.org/resources/ends-vaping/
• Maine CDC Tobacco and Substance Use Prevention and Control Program: (207) 287-4627 or tsup.dhhs@maine.gov
• Surgeon General's Advisory, [//e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/documents/surgeon-generals-advisory-on-e-cigarette-use-among-youth-2018.pdf]e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/documents/surgeon-generals-advisory-on-e-cigarette-use-among-youth-2018 (PDF)

Falmouth, Rehabilitation of the Presumpscot Falls Bridge

Date: 10/23/19
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Falmouth Town Office, Council Chambers, 271 Falmouth Road, Falmouth
Please join MaineDOT to discuss the rehabilitation of the Presumpscot Falls Bridge (#5669) which is over the Presumpscot River located 0.21 of a mile northeast of Pleasant Hill Road in Falmouth, Maine. MaineDOT will present information about the project and will listen to concerns and answer questions. Accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities. Please call in advance to request auxiliary aids. TTY users dial Maine Relay 711. Work Identification Number: 022310

For more information: Mackenzie Kersbergen. Phone: 207-215-3829. E-mail: Mackenzie.A.kersbergen@maine.gov

South Portland, Tackling Safety Problems with City Streets, Intersections, and Crosswalks (for Voting Districts 1 and 2)

Date: 10/10/19
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: South Portland High School Cafeteria, 637 Highland Avenue, South Portland
FMI-Phone: 2076234511
Help make South Portland's streets safer! Let's take the first steps together to tackle our city's most dangerous streets, intersections and crosswalks! Join us to address the recent spike in pedestrian/vehicle crashes. Share your thoughts and get reflective safety gear!

Rockland Public Library--- Autumn Tree Walk on October 16 at 10:30 AM

Rockland, Maine - Richard Schneller will lead Rockland Public Library's Wednesday Walkers in a special Autumn tree walk on Wednesday, October 16 at 10:30 AM.


An autumn tree walk is desirable not only for enjoying the wonderful fall foliage that New Englanders know and love, but it's a good time to observe trees transitioning into their winter dormancy. Learning to recognize aspects of the twigs, buds, and fruit, is an important part of knowing the identity of trees.


Richard Schneller, after many years of enthusiasm for trees, became a licensed arborist in 2001  and worked in tree care for about 12 years. He currently serves as Rockland's Tree Warden.


All are welcome to join the free walk, which will start promptly at 10:30. Participants will meet at the checkout desk and are required to sign a waiver form. For more information, call the Library at 594-0310.

Rockland Public Library--- Haunted: An Evening of Stories, Poetry & Music

Rockland, Maine - Join librarians Jessie Blanchard & Patty King in Rockland Public Library's Reading Room on Thursday, October 17 at 6:30 PM for an evening of spooky and strange stories. Teenagers and adults are invited to come and share a (mostly) unscripted 5-minute story about a spooky, supernatural or otherworldly experience, either lived or imagined. Participants are welcome to use notes, if needed. And of course, just coming to listen is welcome. Blanchard and King will do readings from classic tales of horror. There will be atmospheric music accompaniment throughout the evening. Costumes welcome, if you’re so inclined!


To sign up to share a story, contact King at pking@rocklandmaine.gov or 594-0310. Impromptu story sharing on the night of the event is also welcomed and encouraged. This event is intended for adults and teens as content may not be child-friendly.


The Rockland Public Library is located at 80 Union. St. This event is free and open to the public.

ATV Trail System in Review - Take the Survey!

The ATV Task Force seeks your comments in relation to the ATV trail system in Maine. Submit your comments here.

Your comments will be reviewed by the ATV Task Force created by Governor Janet Mills to look at a variety of issues associated with the growth in ATV use in the state, including a focus on ATV use on private land. Learn more at the ATV Task Force webpage.

Stay informed get the ATV Program Trail Alerts and News by text or email.

Birding Adventures in Mexico with Doug Hitchcox at the Camden Public Library

Camden, Maine - Naturalist Doug Hitchcox will talk about his March 2019 birding adventure to Oaxaca, Mexico on Thursday, October 17, at 7:00 pm as part of a fall series of presentations by Mid-Coast Audubon at the Camden Public Library.

Maine Audubon made a trip to south-western Mexico in search of rare endemic species in the Sierra Madre Mountains. Based in the beautiful colonial city of Oaxaca, known for great birds, authentic food, and amazing human history, the group explored many habitats in the area, including the deserts near Teotitlán and the pine forests of La Cumbre at altitudes of up to almost 10,000 feet.

 The presentation will include a description of the city of Oaxaca and the surrounding area, home of the ancient pre-Columbian Zapotec culture. The group had a chance to explore the imposing ruins of Monte Albán and Mitla, learning about early indigenous people and their impressive engineering and architectural skills. They also had ample opportunity to watch local artisans weaving traditional tapestries and sample the world-famous cuisine. Where else can one watch Blue-throated Mountain-gem while enjoying a lunch of Aztec stew? For more information, visit librarycamden.org.

Attached Photos courtesy of Doug Hitchcox

Cruise Ship Sapphire Princess Anchors In Rockland

Rockland, Maine - Cruise ship Sapphire Princess with 2,670 passengers and 1,100 crew members anchored on Sunday, September 29th, 2019 in beautiful Rockland, Maine.

Passengers greeted by members of Penobscot Bay Chamber of Commerce had the chance to walk harbor trail, main street, visit main street shops, museums, restaurants.

You also had the chance to take tour buses to Camden to check out the shops, museums, restaurants.

Sapphire Princess is a cruise ship owned by Princess Cruises that entered service in 2004 as the twin sister ship of Diamond Princess. At the time she was one of the world's largest cruise ships, with a capacity of 2,670 passengers and is the sixth Gem-class ship built by Princess Cruises. Sapphire Princess was christened on June 10, 2004 in Seattle, the first cruise ship ever to be christened in that port.

Damariscotta Bank & Trust Named as a Best Place to Work in Maine

Damariscotta, Maine - Damariscotta Bank & Trust was recently named as one of the 2019 Best Places to Work in Maine. This statewide survey and awards program was created in 2006 to identify, recognize, and award the best places of employment in Maine who are benefiting the state’s economy, its workforce and business. Damariscotta Bank & Trust was honored in the medium-sized category (50-249 U.S. employees).

“We are very excited to have been chosen as one the Best Places to Work in Maine for the fourth year in a row. Our employees are the center of our organization and a big part of what makes our bank great. They make a difference in our customer’s lives and in their communities. As an organization we take pride that every employee is treated as an individual not as a number just as we treat our customers,” said Marcia Benner, Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer.

Companies from across the state entered the two-part process to determine the Best Places to Work in Maine. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices, and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final rankings. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process in Maine and also analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final rankings.

“DB&T started in the early 1970s to meet the needs of families and small businesses in the Damariscotta area, followed by an expansion to Lincoln, Knox and Waldo County. We are very proud of the Bank we have built together and appreciative of our knowledgeable, helpful and approachable employees because this is what makes our institution reflect these attributes for our customers. We thank our exceptional employees for making us a Best Place to Work in Maine for another year,” said Scott Conant, CEO & President.

Damariscotta Bank & Trust will be recognized at the Best Places to Work in Maine awards ceremony on October 2 and will be listed in a special publication by Mainebiz. The final rankings will be announced at the event. For more information on the Best Places to Work in Maine program, go to www.BestPlacestoWorkME.com or contact Jackie Miller at 717-323-5237. For more information about Damariscotta Bank & Trust, go to www.DamariscottaBank.com or call 800-639-8381.

Portland City Council Asks Rock Row Developers to Address Concert Noise

PORTLAND, Maine -- The Portland City Council has sent a letter to the Rock Row developers asking them to address concert noise and related issues at the Maine Savings Pavillion. Councilors Batson and Thibodeau co-authored the letter, which all members of the Council signed (see attached).


The Councilors are specifically asking for the following information: decibel readings for each
show which shows were amplified on the venue system or that of the artist exact locations of
the monitors at which shows was sound lowered during the performance due to excessive noise.


The Councilors are also requesting details of how Waterfront Concerts has been cataloging and

More than 44,000 Mainers Projected to Lose Food Assistance Under Trump SNAP Proposal

Nearly half at risk are children, older Mainers, and people with disabilities

AUGUSTA – A Trump administration proposal to kick millions of Americans off the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would threaten essential food benefits for more than 44,000 Maine people, nearly half of whom are children, older Mainers, and people with disabilities.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) estimates that 44,068 SNAP participants in Maine would lose food benefits under the proposed rule change. Of those, 11,031 are children and 9,598 are over age 60 or have a disability.

In total, nearly 27 percent of all SNAP participants in Maine are at risk of losing benefits under the proposal, DHHS estimates.

The proposal also would jeopardize meals for schoolchildren, by eliminating automatic enrollment of children in SNAP families in free and reduced-cost school meal programs.

"This proposal would take healthy food off the plates of children, older Mainers, and people with disabilities while punishing hard-working families," said Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew. "We urge the Administration to rescind this misguided proposal, which will hurt Maine people who are just trying to make ends meet."

Last week, Governor Janet Mills joined a coalition of Governors from 16 other states in sending a [//content.govdelivery.com/attachments/MIEOG/2019/08/28/file_attachments/1274517/Letter%20to%20Secretary%20Perdue%20-%20SNAP.pdf]letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to oppose the proposal, which would essentially eliminate Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility from SNAP. Under Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility, states enroll eligible applicants in SNAP if they already qualify for other benefits for low-income people, primarily Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). This allows states to tailor the program to their specific populations and to better coordinate SNAP with other public assistance programs. This now-threatened policy has resulted in more low-income families gaining access to critical food assistance, while also making SNAP less costly for states to administer.

The proposal penalizes families with incomes near the eligibility line by taking away their benefits if they experience even a small increase in wages, and similarly harms older people on fixed incomes who accumulate modest savings.

Maine DHHS is submitting comments to the federal government opposing the rule change. The federal government will accept [//www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/07/24/2019-15670/revision-of-categorical-eligibility-in-the-supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap#open-comment]comments on the proposed rule through September 23.

Westbrook Youth Football - Family Movie Night TONIGHT

Friday, September 6, 2019
Pizza, popcorn, drinks and other food available for purchase. Jungle Bootcamp for Kids and other activities at 6PM.

Date:

September 6, 2019

Time:

6:00 PM

Time Details:

Gates open at 6PM, The Lion King (original version) begins at 8PM

Location:

View Facility

Warren & Fraser Baseball Fields

Address:

Stevens Avenue
Westbrook, ME 04092

Cost:

$2 per person/$10 maximum per family

City Council to Host Workshop on Parking Garage Proposal on September 10

Biddeford, Maine - The City Council is considering a proposal from Biddeford Innovation, Inc. to build a 640-space parking garage and expand the RiverWalk and pedestrian connections. The purpose of the project is to reduce the property tax burden for residents and provide parking for current and planned development in the downtown and Mill District. No property tax dollars will be used to pay for this project, and the tax rate will not increase due to this project. A City Council Workshop on the proposal will be held on Tuesday, September 10 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. Community members who attend will have the opportunity to share their comments on the proposal with the Council. The Council is expected to vote on the proposal at their September 17 meeting.

If the proposal is approved, Biddeford Innovation, Inc. will design, build, and manage the parking garage. The City will contribute to the project through two sources. The first is through annual payments from the City’s TIF. Money in the TIF fund comes from sheltered property tax payments from businesses and developments in the Mill District – NOT from residential property taxpayers. The second source is revenues from the parking garage and parking lots. If parking revenues are less than expected, the City can make up the difference by collecting payments from surrounding properties in the Mill District, adjusting parking rates, or a combination of the two. If revenues are more than expected, the City will receive the benefit.

All on-street parking will remain FREE. During construction of the garage, rates for parking in surface lots will not increase. Once the garage is completed, rates for parking in the structure will be the same as surface lots. Under the proposal, Biddeford Innovation, Inc. would also assume management of surface lots in the downtown area.

A parking garage is important to our community to promote continued downtown and Mill District development. This matters to taxpayers because new development makes buildings and properties more valuable. More valuable buildings pay more property taxes to the City, which helps stabilize the property tax rate. The construction of the garage is expected to provide the City of Biddeford an additional $16,407,604 in property taxes in the first 10 years of operation and a benefit of $39,772,744 over the 25 year lifetime of the agreement.

 For more information, please visit www.biddefordmaine.org/parkinggarage.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis confirmed in York County horse

AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) was alerted late this afternoon of a positive test for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in a horse in York County. The horse, which was not vaccinated against the disease, was euthanized. This is the first case of a horse contracting EEE in Maine since 2013.

EEE is a virus that is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. "EEE, which is carried by mosquitoes, is a fatal, viral disease in horses. The virus can affect human beings if they are bitten by mosquitoes that carry the virus," said Dr. Michele Walsh, Maine State Veterinarian. "People cannot acquire EEE infection from sick animals, only from the bite of an infected mosquito."

"This positive result confirms that mosquitoes carrying the virus are present in Maine, which is the reason why Maine CDC urges the state's residents and visitors to take precautions to protect themselves and their animals from mosquito bites," said Nirav D. Shah, Director of Maine CDC. "We want everyone to take precautions while enjoying themselves this holiday weekend."

Public health officials in other northeastern states have seen evidence of a very active season for EEE and some evidence of mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus (WNV), another mosquito-borne illness. There have been no confirmed cases of EEE or WNV in humans in Maine this year. The last case of EEE involving a human in Maine was in 2015.

Maine CDC advises residents and visitors to protect themselves, their children, and animals by minimizing outdoor activity from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. If outdoor activity is unavoidable, take personal precautions to prevent mosquito bites, including:

Use an EPA-approved repellent
Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants
Treat clothing and gear with Permethrin
Take steps to control mosquitoes around your property by emptying artificial sources of standing water, fixing holes in screens, and working with a pesticide control applicator.
Animal owners should be aware that:

An EEE/WNV vaccine for horses is available.
Horses that have not been EEE/WNV vaccinated in the past six months should get either an initial vaccine or a booster as soon as possible.
The virus cannot be transmitted from horses to humans.
The virus can also affect specialty livestock, such as llamas, alpacas, emus, ostriches, and other farm-raised birds, such as pheasants, quail and ducks. Owners should contact their herd or flock veterinarians to discuss available vaccines and should also take precautions to help reduce exposure to mosquitoes for both themselves and their animals.
Signs of EEE in horses include stumbling or poor balance, unusual behavior, and lethargy. Other symptoms include head pressing, circling, tremors, seizures and eventual coma. In some animal species, the first signs of the disease can be bloody diarrhea or sudden death. The fatality rate for infected animals is greater than 90%, and those that recover can have permanent brain damage. When approved for protection of a particular species, vaccination is the best way to prevent the disease.

The risk of mosquito-transmitted diseases such as EEE and WNV usually increases through the late summer and early fall. Mosquitoes are active until the second heavy frost.

Human infection with EEE virus can cause serious illness affecting the brain. Some persons infected with EEE have no obvious symptoms. In those persons who do develop illness, symptoms – which typically appear between three and 10 days after a bite – range from mild flu-like illness to high fever, headache, stiff neck, and decreased consciousness. Approximately one in every three individuals who are infected with EEE die and many of those who recover experience lasting health problems. Individuals with symptoms suggestive of EEE infection should contact their physician immediately. No human vaccine against EEE and WNV infection is available. There is no specific antiviral treatment for EEE or WNV infections.

Maine has many resources regarding mosquito-borne diseases:

Maine CDC's vectorborne disease website [//www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne]www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne includes fact sheets on EEE and WNV.
Short videos on mosquito-borne diseases, mosquito habitat, and repellent use are available at [//www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/videos.shtml]www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/videos.shtml or through Maine CDC's YouTube channel [//www.youtube.com/user/MainePublicHealth]www.youtube.com/user/MainePublicHealth.
Information about Maine CDC monitoring of mosquito-borne illnesses is available at [//www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/arboviral-surveillance.shtml]www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/arboviral-surveillance.shtml.
For more information about EEE and WNV prevention, visit this CDC website: [//www.cdc.gov/EEE/]www.cdc.gov/EEE/ or [//www.cdc.gov/westnile]www.cdc.gov/westnile

Maine Cheese Festival in Pittsfield on September 8

Pittsfield ME-The Maine Cheese Guild is holding its fourth annual cheese festival on September 8 in Pittsfield at Manson Park. Attendees can sample or purchase nationally recognized cheeses from 20 small, artisanal, Maine cheese makers. This is a perfect venue to see what Maine cheese has to offer.

Maine beer, wine, spirits, and cider will be sampled at a tent along the Sebasticook River. Five local food trucks will be cooking throughout the day. Entertainment will be provided by locals such as Rough Sawn, Married with Chitlins, and Sibley and Company.

According to Event Coordinator Arlene Brokaw, “Maine cheese is a combination of great quality cow, goat, sheep, and yes, buffalo milk, plus the innovation, creativity and dedication of Maine’s artisanal cheese makers. The personality of each Cheesemaker really shines through their cheeses, and this festival provides a wonderful opportunity to sample all of them.”

Guild President Jessie Dowling reports that Maine cheeses captured an astounding 18 awards at this year’s Big E, the largest agricultural event on the eastern seaboard.

Principal sponsors include Allagash Brewing Company, Bangor Savings Bank, Bangor Wine and Cheese, and Are You Ready to Party. The Town of Pittsfield is celebrating its bicentennial and has been a huge supporter.

The festival runs from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, rain or shine. The Early Bird event begins at 10:00 AM. Kids under 12 are free.

Tickets can be purchased online: mainecheeseguild.org and click on Eventbrite.