Maine News Thursday July 23

News Center Maine -  Faith leaders from Maine are holding a news conference Thursday morning to call out Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over what they've called a "pattern" of violence.

In the U.S., 22 people detained by ICE have died since the start of 2026, according to advocates. The violence faith leaders are speaking on also includes "the ways ICE tears families apart and terrorizes community members," a news release for the news conference said. …

"Together, Maine’s faith leaders express great sorrow over a society that has grown too accustomed to this pattern of cruelty and violence. As faith leaders with the moral responsibility to speak out against such atrocities, they demand an end to the killing," a release for the event said.

Maine Morning Star  - Presumptive Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Troy Jackson announced he’s raised more than  $1 million since he entered the race earlier this month. However, it is still a far cry from the $11 million cash on hand incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins reported as of the last filing deadline.

Press Herald -- Maine has been given about two months to fix “deficiencies” in its anti-Medicaid fraud unit or risk losing its federal certification, President Donald Trump’s administration said. The federal notice is the latest development between Republicans and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills’ administration over whether MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program, is operating properly.

UPCOMING

Wolfe’s Neck Center calendar

Saturdays now 'til 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 products including vegetables, fruits, seedlings, dairy, meat, seafood, cut flowers, mushrooms, baked goods, and artisanal and prepared foods.

JULY 23

Winslow Park, 50 Winslow Park Way, Freeport: The Flukes, 6-7:30, park has $3 entry fee
MAINE's Summer Issue Celebration Party → Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment, 184 Burnett Rd, Freeport  4:00 pm

JULY 24
Yarmouth Clam Festival kicks off Friday, marking 61 years (wgme.com)

JULY 25

Sat, Jul 25, 4:30PM - 8:30PM

30 East Coxon Road, Brunswick, ME

917 Harpswell Neck Road, Harpswell, ME

Winslow Park, 50 Winslow Park Way, Freeport: The Flukes, 6-7:30, park has $3 entry fee

JULY 26
Memorial Park, 5 Park St., Freeport: Jacob R. Miller & The Bandoliers, 2-4
Auditions for “SÉANCE”:   6 pm at FHS Music Room, 30 Holbrook St, Freeport.   Use back door.  
The 34th annual Harpswell Lobster Boat Races, a Maine summer tradition featuring lobster boat races, food trucks, raffles, and more, all supporting the Harpswell Santa Fund. Check the event website for the most up-to-date info. 

JULY 27
Town Manager Office Drop In 30 Main Street 4 pm

JULY 28
Auditions for “SÉANCE”:  -- 6 pm at FHS Music Room, 30 Holbrook St, Freeport.   Use back door. 
Town Manager's Office Drop-In → Freeport, ME 30 Main Street, Freeport 4:00 pm  

JULY 30
Thursday Night Concert Series at Winslow Park

For more info on the artists and to see the Memorial Park summer concert schedule, visit the Meetinghouse Arts website

JULY 30 — THE DELTA KNIGHTS BAND: Led by frontman Rob Babson, The Delta Knights Band has spent 30 years as a Southern Maine staple, delivering a tight, expert blend of blues, R&B, and classic rock.

AUGUST 6 — VINYL FOSSILS…Don't miss this six-piece band performing classic rock and roll music.

AUGUST 13 — CAROLE WISE | MARK ABRAHAM | DENNY BREAU | APRIL REED-COX: Four gifted Maine musicians unite to perform a harmonious, authentic blend of original songs celebrating friendship and collaboration.

AUGUST 20 — CORMAC MCCARTHY: Don't miss Cormac McCarthy's enthralling Americana set, showcasing his expertise as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and storyteller.

AUGUST 27 — BESS JACQUES & THE STRAYS: Bess Jacques & The Strays deliver a vibrant, nostalgic blend of jazz and pop, featuring lush vocal ballads and hard-swinging originals from their debut album.

Winslow Park Concerts are a community collaboration between Meetinghouse Arts and the Town of Freeport  View it on website

AUG 2
Music in the Parks – Memorial Park, 19 Bow Street, 2 pm 

AUG 9
Music in the Parks – Memorial Park, 19 Bow Street, 2 pm 

AUG 20

As global tensions escalate in the Middle East, you have a rare opportunity to hear direct analysis and ask questions of three world-renowned experts in our intimate Freeport Speech venue.  Thursday, August 20, 2026 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (music starts at 6:30 PM) Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St.  Get Ticket 

Maine News Wednesday July 22

 Press Herald - The deadline for schools to adopt cellphone bans is fast approaching and while some have been eager to do so, others have been reluctant. Riley Board offers a glimpse into how Maine’s 261 school districts feel about the new statewide requirement.

Maine Morning Star -   Although Troy Jackson is the expected Democratic U.S. Senate nominee, two other candidates who remain in the race qualified for the nominating convention on Saturday.

Candidates had to submit 500 signatures from registered Democratic voters in Maine by 11:59 p.m. on Monday. Along with Jackson, David Costello, Saundra Pelletier and Dan Kleban submitted the signatures necessary to qualify, the party announced Tuesday. 

However, Kleban, co-founder of Maine Beer Company, and several other candidates already publicly announced they were dropping out over the weekend. 

Hannah Pingree has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood. 

Yarmouth, Maine, home catches fire after propane torch was used to burn weeds (wmtw.com)

JOBS

• Vineyard Vines, LLC posted a job opening for Crew Lead (Part Time Manager) - 58 Main St, Freeport, ME in Freeport. Apply here.
• Dunkin' posted a job opening for Team Member in Brunswick. Apply here. 
• You can search for other jobs near Freeport here.

FREEPORT

A note to Community Library patrons:  Public Works will be performing tree maintenance starting the morning of Thursday, July 23rd and likely continuing throughout the day.  Work will focus on a number of birches near the front of the building, some needing to be fully taken down and some needing limbs removed. This will enable a clean-up and re-planting of the garden area between the main entrance and the meeting room entrance. Dead trees will also be removed elsewhere on the property. 

2026 U.S. Amateur Final Qualifying (massgolf.org) — Freeport’s own Eli Spaulding shot a 3-under 68 at Boston Golf Club to qualify for the 2026 U.S. Amateur Championship at Merion Golf Club in August. The story details how six players, including Spaulding, navigated the demanding Hingham course to earn their spots and explains what’s at stake at this prestigious national amateur event.

Nomination papers are now available at Town Hall and are due back to the Town Clerk by September 9th.

OPEN SEATS:

Councilor-At-Large (3-year term) 1 seat
Councilor District 2 (3-year term) 1 seat
Councilor District 3 (3-year term) 1 seat

Sewer District (3-year terms) 2 seats
Water District (3-year term) 1 seat
RSU5 (3-year terms) 2 seats

Maine News Tuesday July 21

InteractivePolls

MAINE POLL - Senate Troy Jackson: 49% Susan Collins: 46% —— Fav-unfav Jackson: 37-32 (+5) Collins: 35-53 (-18)

@UNHSurveyCenter

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Maine Morning Star -  Troy Jackson won 478 of 500 delegates attending next week’s Maine Democratic Party convention, essentially securing his nomination in the U.S. Senate race, but his support wasn’t uniform across counties.

Only 22 of the 500 elected delegates across 16 counties do not appear on the former Maine Senate president’s list of committed supporters, according to a Maine Morning Star analysis.

That means going into the 600-person convention on July 25, he has the support of 478 out of 500 county delegates. In addition, 101 state party committee members will also take part in the unprecedented convention in Bangor, although how they will vote is not known.

NY Times - As a state lawmaker for much of the past two decades, Mr. Jackson changed positions on prominent social issues. He became a Democrat in 2004 after serving in the State House for two years an independent. (Mr. Jackson ran unsuccessfully for office in 2000 as a Republican but had become an independent by 2002.) Now he is a strong supporter of abortion rights and gay rights. But his voting record once received perfect scores from the anti-abortion group Maine Right to Life, according to the nonpartisan Project Vote Smart. And in 2009, he voted against a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in Maine. By 2023, he had helped pass a bill that allowed women to get abortions late into their pregnancies. And in 2024, his voting record earned a 100 percent rating from Equality Maine, a gay rights advocacy group. “It’s become very clear to me that abortion is health care,” he said in a recent interview. He added that he regretted his previous position on gay marriage. “Now people in L.G.B.T.Q. circles know that I am one of their strongest advocates.”

Maine Morning Star -   Nirav Shah became the second high profile Democrat to drop out of the U.S. Senate race this weekend, all but paving the way for Troy Jackson to become the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee.

Shah on Sunday also announced he was endorsing Jackson, saying, “Susan Collins, Donald Trump, and Senate Republicans are banking on disunity and frustration from Maine Democrats to try and win this seat, and we are not going to give them that.”

“Maine Democrats are united, angry, and energized,” he added. “Now, that energy moves to the most important fight of all: defeating Susan Collins and flipping the United States Senate.”

Shah is the second candidate to drop out on Sunday. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows also announced the end of her bid, saying she would focus on her current role, which includes overseeing elections.

Bangor Daily News: Troy Jackson wins 148 of the 149 Democratic delegates in Cumberland County, the most populated county in Maine

Maine Morning Star - As the public outcry against the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero by federal immigration agents continues, more than a thousand people gathered in Monument Square in Portland to protest U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement.

Mainers have taken to the streets all week, starting hours after the Biddeford resident and young father was shot as he was leaving for work Monday morning. In the days since, community organizers and political leaders throughout Maine have rallied against the federal agency, with many publicly calling for its abolishment.

Press Herald - In the past few years, fishermen have started to notice an unwelcome crustacean in Maine waters: the invasive blue crab. Native to the mid-Atlantic and moving north as the Gulf of Maine rapidly warms, scientists wonder if the blue crabs could help bring their invasive counterparts — the notorious green crabs — to heel. But there’s concern about the damage the blues might cause.

Press Herald - Whether you’re experienced or new to the world of birding, Maine Audubon staff naturalist Doug Hitchcox can answer your questions about the winged creatures you’ll find in Maine in our live Q&A from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 22. Submit a question early here.

Press Herald - Brunswick is a small town of about 22,000, and yet its library has received national media attention for its Library of Things. A library card lets you borrow anything from a blueberry rake to a Wi-Fi hot spot to a popover pan….Founded by Adult Services Librarian Hazel Onsrud in 2018, the variety of items in circulation reflects the evolving and community-oriented nature of the Library of Things. Library patrons have free access to more than 1,500 items, ranging from obscure kitchen tools to board games to educational materials.

Maine News Sunday July 19

 Shenna Bellows - Today I am withdrawing from the U.S. Senate race. Donald Trump's attacks on our democracy are only accelerating, and the best way that I can serve our state and country at this moment is by focusing exclusively on my role as Secretary of State. 

JOBS

• Under Armour, Inc. posted a job opening for Seasonal Stock Associate in Freeport. Apply here.
• Domino's Pizza, Inc. posted a job opening for Assistant Manager(03091) - 8 School St. in Freeport. Apply here.
• You can search for other jobs near Freeport here.

UPCOMING

JULY 19

Memorial Park, 5 Park St., Freeport: Arcadia Band, 2-4 PM
Music in the Parks (Freeport) → Memorial Park, 19 Bow St, Freeport 2:00 pm

JULY 21
The Sicilian Table, 261 US 1, Falmouth: Jim Ciampi with Christina Ackroyd, 5:30-8:30
Town Council Meeting →   30 Main Street, Freeport. 6 pm

JULY 22
Waves for the Bay: Friends of Casco Bay Members Annual Meeting:  5:30-7:30 pm. Where: Portland Yacht Services, 100 West Commercial Street, Portland, ME. The event will be held outside on a gravel surf

JULY 23

Winslow Park, 50 Winslow Park Way, Freeport: The Flukes, 6-7:30, park has $3 entry fee
MAINE's Summer Issue Celebration Party → Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment, 184 Burnett Rd, Freeport  4:00 pm

JULY 24
Yarmouth Clam Festival kicks off Friday, marking 61 years (wgme.com)

JULY 25
Winslow Park, 50 Winslow Park Way, Freeport: The Flukes, 6-7:30, park has $3 entry fee

JULY 26
Memorial Park, 5 Park St., Freeport: Jacob R. Miller & The Bandoliers, 2-4

JULY 30

Thursday Night Concert Series at Winslow Park

For more info on the artists and to see the Memorial Park summer concert schedule, visit the Meetinghouse Arts website

JULY 30 — THE DELTA KNIGHTS BAND: Led by frontman Rob Babson, The Delta Knights Band has spent 30 years as a Southern Maine staple, delivering a tight, expert blend of blues, R&B, and classic rock.

AUGUST 6 — VINYL FOSSILS…Don't miss this six-piece band performing classic rock and roll music.

AUGUST 13 — CAROLE WISE | MARK ABRAHAM | DENNY BREAU | APRIL REED-COX: Four gifted Maine musicians unite to perform a harmonious, authentic blend of original songs celebrating friendship and collaboration.

AUGUST 20 — CORMAC MCCARTHY: Don't miss Cormac McCarthy's enthralling Americana set, showcasing his expertise as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and storyteller.

AUGUST 27 — BESS JACQUES & THE STRAYS: Bess Jacques & The Strays deliver a vibrant, nostalgic blend of jazz and pop, featuring lush vocal ballads and hard-swinging originals from their debut album.

Winslow Park Concerts are a community collaboration between Meetinghouse Arts and the Town of Freeport  View it on website

AUG 20

As global tensions escalate in the Middle East, you have a rare opportunity to hear direct analysis and ask questions of three world-renowned experts in our intimate Freeport Speech venue.  Thursday, August 20, 2026 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (music starts at 6:30 PM) Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St.  Get Ticket 

Maine News Saturday July 18

Press Herald - Green crabs have been invading the Gulf of Maine since arriving from Europe a century ago. Recently, fishermen have noticed another unwelcome crustacean — the blue crab, which is migrating north from mid-Atlantic waters. While scientists worry about the damage they could cause, one Bowdoin College student wonders what might happen when the two crabs meet.

 In These Times -  The Trump administration unleashed federal immigration enforcement agents on states around the nation, including those with relatively miniscule immigrant populations. This includes Maine, the whitest state in the country, where a mere 4 percent of the population is of immigrant origin. ICE agents wreaked havoc on the state in early 2026. Even after Republican Senator Susan Collins requested an end to the operations, tensions remained high and ICE sightings continued.

B98.5 -    The strong storms that rolled across Maine earlier today have caused numerous power outages.According to an article on the WABI website, Central Maine Power is reporting more than 33,000 customers without electricity across 105 separate outages.  Utility crews are continuing to assess storm damage and restore service as quickly as possibJOBS

JOBS

• Oak St. Health posted a job opening for Store Associate in Freeport. Apply here.
• Dunkin' posted a job opening for Shift Leader in Freeport. Apply here. 
• You can search for other jobs near Freeport here.