Maine News Thursday Aug 6

Maine Biz:  Out of 505 hospitals nationwide deemed to be the country’s best regional hospitals, two are in Maine. MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland and Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor were included on a list compiled by U.S. News & World Report. Now in its 37th year, the annual study is meant to help patients and their families make informed, data-driven healthcare decisions in consultation with their medical providers and care teams.

Maine Biz -  Roughly one in seven Mainers are going hungry, with children and older adults most at risk, according to a new estimate from the national nonprofit Feeding America.

More than 203,000 Maine residents experienced food insecurity in 2024, with the state’s food insecurity rate rising to 14.5%, according to Map the Meal Gap, an annual report from the Chicago-based nonprofit.

The rate increased from 13.8% in 2023, as households cope with rising costs for food, housing and other basic needs. The study found that, in Maine, 50,600 children and some 31,000 adults age 60 or older experienced food insecurity.

Maine continues to have the highest child food insecurity rate in New England, according to the report. Rural communities also face significant challenges, with Washington County reporting the highest rate in New England, at 18.8%.

Rep Melanie Sachs -  On July 29, nearly 300 laws that the Legislature passed this year officially went into effect – 90 days after final adjournment of the legislative session. Over the last few months, the rising cost of living has continued to put pressure on many Maine families here in Freeport and across the state. Dysfunction in Washington, Canadian tariffs and the ongoing war in Iran are driving up the prices of gas, groceries and other basic necessities here at home, making it harder than ever for regular folks to make ends meet.

 This session, it was our priority to focus on policies that will make it easier for working families to build a good life in Maine, along with limiting the damage from federal cuts to healthcare, food assistance and other critical services. 

With this in mind, we passed measures that will:

 

• Create a new tax on annual incomes over $1 million 
• Provide ongoing support for the Low-Income Assistance Program (LIAP) to help households pay electricity costs
• Remove unnecessary costs from utility bills
• Fund reproductive health care and family planning services
• Invest in emergency shelters and keeping Mainers housed
• Help build more affordable homes
• Increase the Property Tax Fairness Credit from $1,000 to $1,500
• Protect access to health care
• Create an emergency source of funding for SNAP
• Invest in childcare and clear current waitlists 
• Raise starting teacher salaries from $40K to $50K

92 Moose -  Maine is heading into a hot and humid weekend, with temperatures near 90 degrees and several opportunities for showers and thunderstorms.  Saturday could bring the most active weather. Scattered storms are expected to develop during the afternoon and continue into the evening. Some storms could become strong or severe, producing heavy downpours and gusty winds. More showers and thunderstorms are possible Sunday.

The humidity will remain high throughout the weekend, making it feel even warmer. Temperatures are expected to reach the upper 80s or around 90 degrees, and the sticky conditions may linger into early next week.

Before the weekend arrives, Thursday will feature plenty of sunshine and temperatures in the upper 80s and lower 90s. Rising humidity could push afternoon heat index values into the 90s.

BRUNSWICK

Times Record - The Brunswick Town Council Monday night voted to limit housing developments in the town’s designated rural zone to 20 units per year.  The so-called rate of growth ordinance requires developers who wish to build in such areas to obtain a rural growth permit.

The ordinance comes on the heels of the 2025 comprehensive plan, adopted last winter, which included a new zoning map that designated areas for rural protection. Residents have raised concerns about developments in these areas in recent years, town staff told the council Monday. Affordable housing developments, accessory dwelling units and family gift lots are exempt from the requirement.

DURHAM

Little Boots Farmstand is open. We have organic eggs and freshly picked blackberries. Also selling windowsill bouquets and bracelets. 987 Royalsborough Road Durham

JOBS

• Albertsons Company posted a job opening for Night Crew Stocker in Freeport. Apply here.
• Burger King (Carrols) posted a job opening for Team Member in Brunswick. Apply here. 
• You can search for other jobs near Freeport here.

UPCOMING

Wolfe’s Neck Center calendar

Freeport Farmers Market - Saturdays now through October: Through October 8:30am – 12:30pm at the BTLT Saturday Farmers Market at Crystal Spring Farm. 277 Pleasant Hill Road, Brunswick. The Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust. Farmers Market was established in 1999 to advance the Land Trust’s mission of supporting local agriculture. With over forty vendors, many of whom have been with the Market since its inception, the Saturday morning market offers a variety of local, fresh produce

AUG 6
Winslow Park, 50 Winslow Park Way, Freeport: Vinyl Fossils, 6-7:30, park has $3 entry fee

AUG 7 

AUG 8
Memorial Park, 5 Park St., Freeport: Choro Louco, 2-4

AUG 9
Music in the Parks (Freeport) → Memorial Park, 19 Bow St, Freeport 2:00 pm
Cook’s Lobster & Ale House, 68 Garrison Cove Rd., Bailey Island: Pat Colwell & the Soul Sensations, 1-4
Live Well Farm, 1583 Harpswell Neck Rd., Harpswell: Don Campbell Band, 2

AUG 12
Town Mall Green, 207 Maine St., Brunswick: Lexi James & Wildheart, 6-7:30

AUG 13
317 Main, 317 Main St., Yarmouth: Boba Funk, 5
Winslow Park, 50 Winslow Park Way, Freeport: Carole Wise, Mark Abraham, Denny Breau, April Reed-Cox, 6-7:30, park has $3 entry fee
Bandstand By The Sea, 1410 Harpswell Neck Rd., Harpswell: Portland Jazz Orchestra, 6-7:30

AUG 15
Cook’s Lobster & Ale House, 68 Garrison Cove Rd., Bailey Island: Travis James Humprey, 5-8

AUG 21

SEP 7 

Join Freeport Speech for a special evening featuring Emmy-winning comedy writer Lew Schneider (Everybody Loves Raymond, The Goldbergs) in conversation with local educator and producer Brett Pierce as they discuss how Lew learned to make people laugh and evolved to keep people laughing over a 40-year career. Where: Kresge Auditorium, Bowdoin College, 239 Maine St, Brunswick, ME Cost: $20 general, $10 students (proceeds benefit Meetinghouse Arts) Get your Tickets now. For more information, visit FreeportSpeech.org

NOV 7

Twin Keys: A Love Story: Thomas Wolf with Jessica Chow Shinn and Michael Shinn, duo-pianists  2 PM  Crewe Center for the Arts

Maine News Wednesday Aug 5

Susan Collins disclosed she has an essential tremor

WCYY  - The key artery in Portland, Maine, has become its own variation of an 'international restaurant row'. And now, three new restaurants have popped up along Forest Avenue, all offering something tasty. 

Maine Morning Star  -  A coalition of Maine-based attorneys and legal nonprofits are arguing that the state had the right to deny federal immigration agents covert license plates and that the lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump’s administration should be dismissed.

In a friend of the court brief filed in U.S. District Court on Tuesday, the coalition argues that under the anticommandeering doctrine established by the U.S. Supreme Court, the federal government cannot “commandeer” state regulatory processes by ordering states to enact or administer a federal regulatory program, citing the 1992 ruling that expanded the power of the states established in the Tenth Amendment.

“As a dual sovereign with the federal government, the State of Maine has authority to allocate its resources according to its own priorities and cannot be forced to issue undercover Maine license plates to immigration officials,” reads the brief.

Emma Bond, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, which is among the groups included in the brief, said in a statement, “The federal government cannot force Maine officials to support immigration operations that many Mainers view as tyranny and abuse.”

FREEPORT

Town Hall Hours: Monday: 7:30am - 5:00pm Tuesday: 7:30am - 6:00pm Wednesday: 7:30am - 5:00pm Thursday: 7:30am - 5:00pm

JOBS

• Albertsons Companies, Inc. posted a job opening for Deli Clerk in Freeport. Apply here.
• Dunkin' posted a job opening for Assistant Manager in Freeport. Apply here. 
• You can search for other jobs near Freeport here.

Maine News Tuesday Aug 4

Portland Hearts of Pine plan to build stadium, eye 2029 opening =The Maine pro soccer team’s new goal is to move from Fitzpatrick Stadium to a new home at Cassidy Point, which will seat up to 11,000 people and cost around $50 million.

Federal judge orders Maine to stop enforcing part of Human Rights Act 

Maine News Monday August 3

News Center Maine -   As of 9:20 a.m. Monday, Central Maine Power reported about 5,600 customers without power. Most of those customers were in Androscoggin and Kennebec counties.  Soaking rain and thunderstorms will continue through Monday, but it will be a bit more scattered for the afternoon. Final totals for many will be in the 1-2"+ range with showers and storms coming to an end this evening. Rain and storms keeps temps in the mid 70s for the afternoon.

JOBS

• Dunkin' posted a job opening for Team Member in Freeport. Apply here.
• McDonald's posted a job opening for Certified Shift Manager Weekends required in Freeport. Apply here. 
• You can search for other jobs near Freeport here.

Maine News Sunday August 2

Grand Opening for New Topsham, Maine, Spot With Award-Winning New York-Style Bagels Is Finally Here

Freeport’s Polo Ralph Lauren Outlet slated for closure

JOBS

• Walgreen Company posted a job opening for Inventory Specialist in Yarmouth. Apply here.
• Premium Retail Services, Inc. posted a job opening for Seasonal Merchandiser in Brunswick. Apply here. 
• You can search for other jobs near Freeport here.

Maine News Saturday August 1

Millions of lost lobster traps litter Maine's seafloor. These divers are bringing them home.

FREEPORT

Wolfe’s Neck Center -  Discover the story behind our new Seven Sisters garden, where Indigenous agricultural knowledge and regenerative farming come together. Learn how this meaningful partnership with Jennifer Neptune, Director of the Penobscot Nation Museum, and the Maine Humanities Council is helping restore Wabanaki-cultivated crops to the Homelands of Freeport while honoring generations of stewardship and resilience.

Wolfe’s Neck Center - Climate change is already reshaping farming in the Northeast, bringing new challenges for farmers while highlighting the need for resilient food systems. Explore how regenerative agriculture can help farms adapt, reduce emissions and strengthen the future of agriculture in our region. Read the latest blog to learn why this work matters now more than ever.

Broad Arrow Tavern has reopened at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport, after closing in 2024.

Maine News Friday July 31

 Press Heald - Maine immigrants who have been subjected to arrest and detention this year have notified the federal government of their intent to sue immigration enforcement agencies for more than $5 million. The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine sent the federal government five notices on behalf of these clients, including one family and two individuals. The claims were addressed to the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, according to a statement from the organization.  This is the first step in pursuing legal action under the Federal Tort Claims Act, which generally gives the government six months to respond before a lawsuit can be filed in federal court.

Maine News Thursday July 30

Maine Biz -   Portland’s coastal flood resilience overlay zone was developed in response to a future of increased coastal flooding.  The city worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to model coastal flooding under a scenario of 3.9 feet of sea level rise by 2100.

Maine Morning Star  - The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine is seeking a total of more than $5 million from the federal government on behalf of three Maine residents it says were wrongfully detained.  The five administrative claims filed by the local affiliate Wednesday are among 54 others filed in 17 states and Washington, D.C., under the Federal Tort Claims Act, which allows people to seek financial compensation for harm caused by federal employees. The claims were filed with the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Maine claims stem from the large-scale immigration enforcement operation in January known as Operation Catch of the Day, during which roughly 200 people — the vast majority of whom were lawfully present in the U.S. — were detained. 

FREEPORT

Maine Craft Weekend 2026 (mainepublic.org) — Freeport will be one of two featured hubs for Maine Craft Weekend on October 3–4, 2026, with a concentrated mix of studios, galleries, and special events. Residents can plan self-guided tours, meet makers, watch demonstrations, and shop handmade work as part of this statewide celebration of Maine's craft community.

Heather Seasonwein - My son found this beautiful pup at Sandy Beach in Freeport last night running around. He definitely has an owner!

POWNAL

The Town of Pownal is currently hiring for two full-time Equipment Operator / Laborer positions to join our Public Works crew.  This is a great opportunity to be part of a dedicated team that helps keep our community running smoothly year-round.  View Job Openings  

Pownal continues to offer a Senior Property Tax Assistance Program to help eligible residents offset the cost of property taxes.  The program is available to qualifying seniors who receive Maine's Property Tax Fairness-related tax relief benefits and meet the Town's eligibility requirements. Eligible applicants may receive a supplemental refund or credit from the Town to help reduce their property tax burden.

This local assistance program reflects the Town's commitment to helping seniors remain in their homes while managing rising property tax costs. Interested in applying? Applications and eligibility information are available on the Town website or by contacting the Town Office.   Town Office: 207-688-4611 x2

JOBS

• Vineyard Vines, LLC posted a job opening for Crew Lead (Part Time Manager) - 58 Main St, Freeport, ME in Freeport. Apply here.
• Benchmark Senior Living Nashua Crossings posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Yarmouth. Apply here. 
• You can search for other jobs near Freeport here.

Maine News Wednesday July 29

Maine Morning Star -  As President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement tactics face renewed scrutiny after the fatal shooting of a man in Biddeford, new Maine laws take effect Wednesday that prevent local resources and agencies from being used to support mass deportation efforts.

Local police and jails are restricted in how they can work with federal immigration agents, while those agents are now banned from entering non-public places within public schools, state libraries and certain hospitals without a judicial warrant. Tenants also have new protections against the disclosure of their personal information.

Maine legislators passed these measures last session in order to counter the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda. Some plans had to be walked back from more ambitious proposals, given that state law cannot dictate the actions of federal authorities when they are performing their lawful duties under the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause.

How Maine farmers are weathering climate change (pressherald.com)

JOBS

• Old Navy, Inc. posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Sales Associate - Freeport Vlg Station in Freeport. Apply here.
• Banana Republic, Inc. posted a job opening for Retail Sales Associate - Main St - Freeport in Freeport. Apply here. 
• You can search for other jobs near Freeport here.

Maine News Tuesday July 28

How Maine farmers are weathering climate change (pressherald.com) 

Brunswick named No. 4 on list of nation's charming Main Streets  The Travel + Leisure Magazine article praised Brunswick's small-town vibe and great local businesses.