Maine News Sunday June 7

EVENTS IN AND NEAR FREEPORT
FREEPORT TALES

Chris Hayes: "If Susan Collins is re-elected, remember this, she will continue to rubber stamp the Trump agenda and all that means, and mark my words, there will be more chances for her to install right wing justices in the court to help cement conservative control of that institution for another generation. Sam Alito is 76 years old. He’s all but confirmed he’s retiring soon. Clarence Thomas is 77. He’s already threatened to quit at least once. If Republicans hold the Senate, it seems essentially assured that both men will announce their retirement. Donald Trump will replace them with ideological zealots four decades their junior, and Susan Collins will hem and haw about how concerned she is and then she’ll vote to confirm then anyway, as she did with Brett Kavanaugh. So that is what the stakes are in the [Maine] Senate race.”

News Center Maine -    Robert Peck of South Portland filed on Thursday a federal lawsuit against immigration enforcement agents saying they violated his First and Fourth amendment rights following an incident in January when agents threatened to arrest him for observing them in public.

Amid an immigration enforcement surge in Maine, Peck was watching U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents on the road in Scarborough at what Peck and his attorney described as a safe distance. Peck eventually stopped his car on Milliken Road, where he saw an immigration enforcement vehicle pull over, and two masked agents came to the window of his car, accusing him of violating a federal law that prevents civilians from forcibly impeding law enforcement. 

Peck’s lawsuit described the agents, who were captured on video, as attempting to “chill and punish protected free speech by falsely claiming that this statute makes it a crime for Americans merely to observe the public activities of federal agents.”

The most recent lawsuit was filed in United States District Court under the Maine Civil Rights Act, citing a right for Americans to peacefully observe public government actions. The complaint, which Webbert provided to The Maine Monitor, stated that, in response to the sweeping immigration action unfolding in Maine and across the county, Americans observed, documented and protested the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s “terror campaign targeting immigrant communities of color.”

10 places where you can get seeds for free (pressherald.com)

Maine Biz -   The University of New England earned a STARS Silver Rating for its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. This is the first time UNE has participated in the internationally recognized assessment.

With more than 1,300 participating institutions in 53 countries, STARS is regarded as the leading framework for assessing sustainability in higher education.  “A silver rating for our first time participating is a tremendous accomplishment,” said Alethea Cariddi, UNE’s director in the Office of Sustainability.

Jobs

• Under Armour posted a job opening for Seasonal Stock Associate in Freeport. Apply here.
• Advantage Solutions posted a job opening for Traveling Retail Merchandiser in Freeport. Apply here. 
• You can search for other jobs near Freeport here.

Maine News Saturday June 6

FREEPORT 

Town of Freeport - Here are a few updates about Public Works projects affecting the Freeport community as the summer season begins. ...

Work Continues on Flying Point Road

This project, extending on Flying Point Rd from Pleasant Hill Rd to Upper Mast Landing Rd, will continue over the next couple of weeks. The project involves total reconstruction of the road: grinding the existing pavement, grading, ditch work, improving drainage, adding calcium and 4 inches of asphalt, and readjusting driveways as needed for slopes. Next spring Crooker Construction may add another inch and a half of asphalt after determining the condition of the road after a year. One lane of traffic at a time will continue to remain open. Both lanes are open at night.

Tree Removal on June 10th at West Street

As workers remove a giant oak tree at 23 West St on Wednesday, June 10th, the road will be closed for 1-2 hours. Signage will be posted and residents of the area will not be blocked from entering or leaving their driveways. All others please seek alternate routes.

Housing Development Construction on Depot Street

As two new housing developments are now underway on Depot St downtown, it is suggested that drivers seek alternate routes out of downtown at Mill St, Grove St and West St for the immediate future.

Crack Sealing South Street/South Freeport Road

This crack sealing project is about half finished now, having begun on South St at Bow St, and continuing on South St to South Freeport Rd, past South Freeport Village Market and up to Smelt Brook Rd (at which point Maine DOT maintains South Freeport Rd as it continues back up to Rte 1). The rubberized crack fill preserves the road by keeping water from getting in and disrupting the foundation. Flow of traffic will continue as the work is done, which should last for another couple of weeks.

Town Hall Beautification

Work continues to progress on the Town Hall Beautification Project at 30 Main St, and the front entrance to Town Hall will remain closed until the project is complete. Your patience is appreciated as this project moves to its next phase of more specialized portions of work.

Jobs

• Starbucks Corporation posted a job opening for shift supervisor - Store# 07549, FREEPORT MAIN STREET in Freeport. Apply here.
• Bowdoin College posted a job opening for Food Service Worker (Part Time) in Brunswick. Apply here. 
• You can search for other jobs near Freeport here.

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Independent -   The cost of fueling a vessel has become a significant concern, with regular gasoline prices averaging 34% higher than a year ago, according to motor club AAA. Diesel fuel, used by many larger boats, has seen an even steeper 53% rise over the same period.

For those who prefer ethanol-free gas – a common choice for boaters, classic car owners, and even lawnmower users – the premium can add an extra 20 cents to $1 per gallon, reports the National Association of Convenience Stores.

Gianl1974  - The woman accusing Graham Platner of "intimidation" has been exposed as a top Republican operative who has worked with his opponent, Susan Collins...

On Thursday evening, the New York Times ran a story in which a woman, Lindsey Fifield, accused Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner of grabbing her by the arm, twisting her arm, and of standing in a doorway menacingly blocking her exit. 

The New York Times could not corroborate any of her accusations, but ran the story anyway, along with allegations from a few other women that Graham Platner could be unsettling, had dark thoughts, and generally had spooky vibes as a boyfriend.  

They also spoke to several other women who said he was a lovely boyfriend and they happily supported his candidacy.

It’s now coming out that Lindsey Fifeld is a lifelong GOP operative who has worked with Platner’s Republican opponent, Susan Collins, and successfully persuaded her to vote in favor of Brett Kavanaugh, Trump’s Supreme Court justice...

Reporter Ryan Grim at Drop Site News reports that “In 2014, Fifield began work as digital director for American Action Network, a Republican Super PAC that oversees House races. The next year she became social media manager for the Heritage Foundation, where she stayed for the next seven years.”

“In 2022, she joined the Super PAC backing Nikki Haley for president, switching to the official campaign side the next year, and staying until the campaign flamed out. She now lists herself as a visiting fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum, a prominent dark money group that is best known for helping usher Brett Kavanaugh on to the Supreme Court and giving Susan Collins the talking points she needed to make her decisive speech in his favor.“

“The NYT breezed past all this, saying she was ‘a Virginia conservative who has worked for right-leaning groups and Republican campaigns.’” 

“Meanwhile, the timeline Fifield gives of their relationship is confusing, because during at least some of that time she was actually dating a different person, her long term boyfriend who became her fiancee before she called off the wedding in 2018. We all know this because she and [Zionist extremist Bethany] Mandel did a podcast episode on it that went mega-viral in Republican circles back then.”

Maine News Friday June 5

FREEPORT

Developers break ground on dozens of new homes in Freeport (wgme.com) — Dozens of new homes are now under construction at 45 Depot Street, bringing 45 one- and two-bedroom condos at what developers call “attainable pricing” right in downtown Freeport. Town leaders say the Depot Housing project marks a key step in long-planned downtown revitalization, joining another 51-unit building across the street as part of a broader transformation of the area

JOBS

• Hannaford Bros Co posted a job opening for FT Meat Market Manager Trainee (H) in Yarmouth. Apply here.
• Dog House posted a job opening for HVAC Parts Coordinator in Brunswick. Apply here. 
• You can search for other jobs near Freeport here.

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Maine Morning Star -  In fall, hoards of winter ticks latch on to New England’s moose — sometimes upward of 50,000 per adult animal.  Over the course of the winter, the ticks drink their fill of blood, weakening adult moose and sometimes killing calves. 

“Essentially, they get the life sucked out of them,” said Henry Jones, New Hampshire Fish and Game moose project leader.

This onslaught, bolstered by climate change, is a major factor behind the ongoing decline in the health and numbers of New Hampshire’s moose over the last two decades, Jones said. So far, researchers have been unsure how to help. But a team of New Hampshire researchers have a new hypothesis: Could the way forests are logged make moose more, or less, likely to encounter parasites? 

A new study, approved to move ahead by the Governor and Executive Council on Wednesday, June 3, aims to answer that question — and determine whether a different approach to forest management could help “zombie moose” evade the parasites draining them of life and energy. 

Maine Morning Star - Paul LePage, who is currently running for U.S. Congress in Maine’s 2nd District, is once again facing scrutiny over his Florida residence after one of his Democratic opponents released documents showing the wife of the Republican former governor has claimed a Florida property tax exemption since 2018.

Matt Dunlap, one of four primary candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Rep. Jared Golden’s seat, shared the documents at a Thursday press conference with reporters. 

Maine Morning Star independently verified the public records, which include tax records that show a property in Ann LePage’s name has received an annual $50,000 homestead exemption from 2018 through 2025.  To qualify for the homestead exemption in Florida, the property must be the owner’s permanent residence, or the permanent residence of a dependent. 

Sam Smith - When I first heard Graham Platner willingly describe some of his past sins from which he had morally matured, I tried to recall, in my seven decades of covering news, when some other politician had been as decently public about their wrong doings. I have still failed to come up with an answer.

Now Platner is being accused of further sins which he denies. Was he unique but not unique enough?

Well, in the first place, you vote practically for candidates based not primarily on their personal behavior but on their political action.  

Secondly, if we knew as much about all members of Congress as we now have heard allegedly about Platner he would be far less newsworthy.

Which is why this Maine voter plans to stick with Platner despite his alleged misdoings. His victory would be a tribute to his open recovery from some past wrongs and a role model for others.