Casco Bay News Monday November 2

Press Herald - After failing to qualify for the upcoming November ballot, the group behind a proposed referendum to limit transgender students’ rights in sports says it has enough signatures qualify for the 2027 election. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows initially certified the 2026 citizens’ initiative, filed by the group Protect Girls Sports, but later met a legal challenge over the validity of its signatures.

Bellows agreed with the lawsuit — which claimed that out-of-state signature collectors broke several state rules during the name collection process — and rejected thousands of signatures during a review, leaving the group 500 short of qualification. The case worked its way up the state court system until the Maine Supreme Judicial Court determined in July that Bellows had been right to invalidate the signatures. That decision meant the referendum would not appear on this year’s ballot.

Maine Morning Star - More than 290,000 Mainers have already cast their ballot in races that will determine the balance of power in the Maine Legislature and U.S. Congress, as well as who will occupy the Blaine House for the next four years.

The candidates are making their final appeals in what has become the most expensive election in Maine history. In addition to record spending in the U.S. Senate race between Susan Collins and Troy Jackson, we have seen outside groups pour millions of dollars into local legislative races.

Also, our 2026 Election Voter Guide has all the information you need on the candidates, their positions, as well as answers to commonly asked questions about how you can register at the polls and where to vote.

Because we are an independent, nonprofit organization, our donors make this work possible and make it so all of our reporting is available to all — free with no paywall.

Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment - What can a handful of artifacts reveal about centuries of history? An archaeological survey at Wolfe’s Neck Center’s historic Saltbox House uncovered 737 artifacts offering clues about the people who lived there. Discover what these findings tell us about the house’s past and plans to preserve it as the future home of the Casco History Lab.

Best Portland seafood restaurants

UPCOMING

Calendar for Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment

News Center Maine - L.L.Bean is gearing up to transform its Freeport flagship campus into a winter wonderland for its annual Northern Lights Celebration. The festivities kick off Friday, Nov. 6, with a new Holiday Treat Weekend, marking the first of 11 themed weekends stretching into the new year.

….The annual tree lighting ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20, at Discovery Park, where a 32-foot Norway spruce will be illuminated alongside performances by local a cappella groups.

Other holiday activities include movie nights, trivia, gift-making workshops, pet visits with Santa, holiday light displays, and heated igloos.

Visitors can also enjoy themed weekends featuring holiday treats, nostalgic decorations, gift wrapping, and other seasonal activities.

The celebration will ring in the new year with The Maine Event, a family-friendly New Year's Eve gathering at Discovery Park featuring music, games, and a countdown at 9 p.m. Festivities are scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m.

Northern Lights will continue into the new year with wellness-themed activities, including yoga walks and outdoor experiences. A full schedule of events and registration information is available here.

NOV 2

Board of Appeals Meeting →Freeport, 6:30 pm

NOV 3

Tonic, 7 Dunlap St., Brunswick: Open mic with Rexy Dinosaur, 6-8

Harpswell Parks & Recreation Hiking Club 9- 11AM 263 Mountain Road, Harpswell A guided hike through Harpswell's scenic trails, suitable for all ages and fitness levels, promoting outdoor activity and community engagement. Check the event website for the most up-to-date info.

NOV 4

Planning Board → Freeport, ME Calendar, 30 Main Street, Freeport
6:00 pm

Library Board of Trustees → 10 Library Drive, Freeport 6:00 pm

NOV 7

Visit Freeport's Early Bird Sale-A-Bration - 12AM - 11:59PM 115 Main Street, Freeport . An annual event presented by Visit Freeport, featuring special deals, door prizes, and treats around town to kick off the holiday shopping season.

Check the event website for the most up-to-date info.

DEC 5

Wolfe's Neck Ctr for Agriculture & the Environment The beginning of December means it’s time for our annual Night Tree event. Sip on hot cocoa as you listen to the classic story by Eve Bunting, make a pinecone feeder for the forest animals, then hang it up in the woods next to a nice, warm bonfire. Register

Casco Bay News Sunday November 1

WBUR -- This year students in Brunswick and across Maine don’t get their phones back after each class. They cannot check social media on their phones in the hallways or at lunch. They can’t text their parents or friends at any point during the day. A single paragraph on the 175th page of the state’s supplemental budget in April set a sweeping mandate for K-12 schools across the state: Ban cellphones and other electronic devices connected to the internet — with some medical and other exceptions — from “starting bell to dismissal bell” by Aug. 1.The new law, championed by Gov. Janet Mills, was meant to limit distractions and encourage real-life connections. It made Maine the 23rd state to enforce a statewide bell-to-bell cellphone ban, according to Emily Rapp, director of public policy for the Institute for Families and Technology, based in Washington, D.C.
What's up at Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment

Learn how to make mozzarella from scratch. We will take Wolfe’s Neck Center milk and turn it into this classic cheese. You will take home your own cheese and the knowledge to make it yourself. We will also visit the cows that gave us the milk we will use and get a tour of our milking parlor. Tickets
Join Chef Malcolm for this in-depth pie making class. We will begin by making a delicious flaky pie crust for our base, before moving on to making classic apple and pumpkin pies from scratch. You will leave with plenty of pie to share as well as the recipes to make these treats for all your holiday gatherings.

Casco Bay News Saturday October 31

How Brunswick schools' performing arts programs prepare students for life

Some addiction treatment services in Maine aren’t financially sustainable, a provider from Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness warns.

Press Herald - At a crucial moment for U.S.-Israeli relations, a major pro-Israel lobbying group has dropped millions on Maine’s U.S. Senate race, according to campaign finance data — throwing its support behind Sen. Susan Collins’ reelection bid.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, is a group that endorses and puts money behind pro-Israel candidates. It is far and away the largest donor to Collins’ campaign and leadership PAC this year, Federal Election Commission data shows.

The group has contributed about $2.8 million so far — more than her next 20 top donors combined, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets, a nonprofit campaign finance tracking organization.

Casco Bay News Friday October 30

Maine Biz - Maine may be known as Vacationland, but it’s also one of the best states in the country to find a job, a report from WalletHub shows.In its 2026 ranking of the best and worst states for jobs, the personal finance website placed Maine at No. 7, between Washington at No. 6 and Texas at No. 8. Nebraska claimed the top spot, while West Virginia ranked last at No. 50.

Nathan Bernard - The state of Maine shattered another statewide record for heating oil prices this week. On October 29, the Department of Energy Resources (DOER)’s weekly survey showed average statewide heating fuel prices rising to $6.05 per gallon as of October 26. This broke the previous record average statewide prices of $6.04 set on October 22, and $6.02 per gallon on September 21.

The record-shattering heating prices are taking their toll on Mainers ahead of the midterm elections on November 3. Roughly half of Mainers rely on heating oil as their principal energy source in winter—compared with just 3% nationwide—meaning Mainers face an increase of thousands of dollars in heating. The heating oil price hikes are directly affected by the war in Iran and closure of the strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly 20% to 25% of the world’s seaborne oil and petroleum product flow. Sen. Susan Collins voted to extend U.S. military operations in Iran five times since February 2026. Canvassers across the state are hearing that heating oil is a top issue for Maine voters in the Senate race

Covenant Health has agreed to pay $2 million to settle a class action lawsuit over a data breach that impacted at least 284,000 Mainers.

Casco Bay News Thursday October 29

Andrew Thompson said he wouldn’t have been able to take much time off of work after the birth of his daughter had it not been for Maine’s new paid family and medical leave law.

Thompson, a baker at Scratch Bakery in South Portland, said his wife Katherine gave birth to Lucy, their first child, in January. She received paid leave through her work as an elementary school teacher, but Thompson said the bakery didn’t have its own program, so he received paid time through the state program.

Maine’s paid leave law was approved by lawmakers in 2023, and was fully implemented this year. Maine residents could begin applying for their paid leave benefits in March, and start receiving them in May. Andrew Thompson said he wouldn’t have been able to take much time off of work after the birth of his daughter had it not been for Maine’s new paid family and medical leave law. Thompson, a baker at Scratch Bakery in South Portland, said his wife Katherine gave birth to Lucy, their first child, in January. She received paid leave through her work as an elementary school teacher, but Thompson said the bakery didn’t have its own program, so he received paid time through the state program.

Town of Pownal - 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. The deadline to apply is November 15th.

Maine Morning Star - Citizens of Wabanaki Nations are divided in their pick for who should represent Maine in the U.S. Senate, highlighting the tension the tribes face between the need for investment and their ultimate goal of full sovereignty.

The tribal councils of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and the Mi’kmaq Nation endorsed Democratic nominee Troy Jackson, citing his commitment to advocating for the Wabanaki Nations’ sovereignty. Meanwhile, the two chiefs of the two reservations of the Passamaquoddy Tribe endorsed incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, pointing to her ability to secure federal funding as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Neither the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township nor the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik have endorsed Collins. As a tribal citizen of the Passamaquoddy community at Sipayik emphasized in a recent op-ed, their chief is not authorized to endorse political candidates on the Tribe’s behalf.

But the individual endorsements still mark a departure from elections past, as the five-term senator had never before received such endorsements. They also illustrate the competing interests the candidates are appealing to as the Nov. 3 election nears.

The dilemma in front of Portland school officials: On Tuesday, the school board was presented with two paths forward: move fifth grade from elementary to middle school, or close one of the district's three middle schools. Whichever way officials lean, it's bound to meet resistance based on the cost — either monetarily or in nostalgic attachment to a historic building.

Town of Freeport - Freeport Community Library will be getting much-needed replacement siding. The project is scheduled to begin on Monday, November 9th. The existing cedar siding will be replaced with a more durable, and less expensive composite shingle.

The library will remain open throughout this process. The work is all happening outdoors and won't impact the entrances, since there is brick facade on that part of the building.

This work will be noisy. We will continue to offer regular programs and meeting spaces, but please be aware that there will noise while the new siding is being installed.

We expect this to take several weeks but we do not have an exact timeline, as weather, timely arrival of materials, and other issues could impact the length of time this will take.

Safety is a top concern of library staff and the contractor. We are working with RSU5 to ensure that neighboring middle schoolers are kept away from areas currently under construction. Active work areas will be clearly marked and blocked from foot traffic, to keep humans and canines safe. Freeport Public Works will be hauling away discarded siding material every day that work is happening.

Casco Bay News Wednesday October 28

Mainebiz - The Maine Affordable Housing Coalition will bring together housing industry leaders, researchers, advocates, policymakers, philanthropists and community members on Nov. 9 for its annual conference.

“Housing is the single biggest burden facing Maine’s families and working people today,” said Laura Mitchell, executive director of the coalition. “As rents soar and homeownership slips further out of reach, the ripple effects are felt across every corner of our state: young workers are forced to leave, parents face impossible choices between housing and basic needs, fixed-income seniors struggle to age in place and local business owners can’t recruit or retain the staff needed to keep their doors open.”

Freeport Community Services - Last night at our annual meeting, we shared our plans to expand both our Thrift Shop and our Food Pantry. Thrift Shop proceeds fuel our vital programs, and the Food Pantry supports our neighbors in need. With the future expansion of these spaces, we can serve the growing needs of our community well into the future.

WalletHub compared the 50 states across 34 key indicators of job-market strength and economic vitality. The data set ranges from employment growth to the median annual income to the average commute time.

Finding a Job in Maine (1=Best; 25=Avg.):

Overall rank for Maine: 7^th
5^th – Job Opportunities
28^th – Employment Growth
10^th – Unemployment Rate
10^th – Avg. Length of Work Week (in Hours)
23^rd – Avg. Commute Time (in Minutes)

Town of Freeport - Freeport residents can vote in-person by absentee ballot at Town Hall through October 29th without special circumstances. If you are a resident and unregistered, you can register and vote in the same visit.

WBLM- Over the last several years, there have been more than 32,000 vehicle accidents in Maine that have involved deer. In 2025 alone, there were 7,672 deer crashes averaging out to more than 21 per day. Maine ranks number 9 in the nation in odds of having a deer-related vehicle crash and those odds are set to increase over the next few months.

That's because deer mating season has arrived in Maine and during the peak of rutting season in November, deer crashes around the state typically spike. Roughly 20% of the deer crashes in 2025 took place in November.

92 Moose - Going out to eat can get expensive quickly, especially when you’re trying to grab a bite and catch up with friends. So when I saw that a new spot in Portland is serving burgers, grilled cheese and fries for just $7 each, I had to know more. According to Portland Press Herald, the food menu sticks to a few familiar favorites: burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and fries, all priced at $7 each. Honestly, seeing a price like that caught my attention. These days, it feels like even a quick meal can add up befor

Casco Bay News Tuesday October 27

WBLM - According to the latest data from beerinfo.com, the average Mainer consumed over 31 gallons of beer in 2025. That was good enough to rank Maine as the 11th highest state for beer consumption.

Maine Morning Star - The Maine Ethics Commission on Monday fined Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Charles more than $22,000 for violating state campaign finance laws.

B95-FM - If you spend a lot of time driving the I-95 through Maine there is a good chance that you have broken the law without even realizing it.

Without hashing out the specifics of how fast you drive, I think we can all agree that many of us frequently drive faster than the posted speed limit. A lot of times this happens when we're on the highway. This often causes us to drive faster than the flow of traffic. When that happens we tend to camp in the left lane of the highway.

Is it legal to do this? Technically, no.

According to the Maine Legislature website: “An operator driving on a limited-access way with a speed limit of 65 or more miles per hour is restricted in ordinary operation to the right-hand lane and may use adjacent lanes for overtaking and passing another vehicle, but must return to the right-hand lane at the earliest opportunity. This requirement does not apply to an authorized emergency vehicle, or to a vehicle otherwise directed by posted signs, a law enforcement officer or a highway maintenance crew.”

Casco Bay News Monday October 26

WMTW - Freeport Fire Rescue is warning residents that ongoing dry conditions mean even a single discarded cigarette or poorly extinguished fire could spark a dangerous blaze. The department urges locals to fully douse campfires, handle wood-stove ashes carefully, and never toss smoking materials into dry leaves or from vehicles, as drought concerns and fire risk remain elevated across Maine

WOKQ - Freeport residents may be surprised to learn their town is one of six Maine communities that restrict or tightly control chain and fast-food restaurants. Local ordinances require chains like McDonald’s and Starbucks to match downtown Freeport’s architectural style, part of a broader statewide push in several towns to preserve small-business character and avoid corporate sprawl.

Friends of Casco Bay - We’re looking for true, personal stories about the many ways water shapes our lives, from moments of joy and adventure to unexpected challenges, discoveries, and connections. No storytelling experience is necessary. If you have a story that only you can tell, we’d love to hear it. More info

Maine Morning Star - The U.S. Department of Justice is sending election monitors to polls in Portland and Lewiston to oversee the Nov. 3 elections, the Maine Secretary of State’s office confirmed.

The Department of Justice has in recent years sent observers to other states on a smaller scale, usually in response to a civil rights violation. But this comes amid several efforts by the Trump administration to assert authority over the election and following an attempt to force Maine, among other states, to hand over voter information.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said she doesn’t expect the observers will have any impact on election processes. “Any monitors are subject to the same laws and rules as any other observer at the poll,” Bellows told Maine Morning Star. “That means they can observe what’s taking place, but they may not interact with voters, handle ballots or equipment, or disrupt voting in any way.”

Press Herald - Since [LL Beans] reopening, some of the 400,000 visitors have taken to Reddit, Instagram and Facebook comment sections to voice complaints about the store and, to varying degrees of relevance, about Maine’s signature brand as a whole, from the price of its clothes to the politics of the late Linda Bean. While others have applauded the new look and layout, the most commonly shared critique of the physical space is that it lacks charm.

. ... L.L.Bean is smart to take into consideration that not everyone who comes through its doors is interested in shopping. Many people might merely be accompanying someone who is. The more comfortable those people are, the more the actual customers can be left to spend.

That starts with giving them somewhere to sit, which now includes more benches throughout the store, Adirondack chairs around the grounds, camp-inspired nooks by the fitting rooms and living room-like setups with brown leather couches in front of fireplaces, at least one of which had a chessboard.

... While most of these people are probably content to play on their phones, anyone in search of amusement has options, starting with the trout pond and stream tank, where there’s information on different species, as there is by taxidermy displays throughout the store.....

History buffs can read about the evolution of the Boat and Tote bag and of the flagship store itself on shadow boxes containing products from throughout the years, which, these days, could easily fetch four figures on eBay. Kids can draw on giant chalkboards or get inside a rowboat surrounded by nature scenes, while the 21-plus crowd can play cornhole outside with a beer in hand from walk-up drink and snack shack The Outpost.

Brunswick families living in hotels after town condemns mobile homes

Maine News Sunday October 25

UPCOMING

Calendar for Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment

Wander in Terror walk in Freeport mixes spooky sounds and lighting across historical eras. Freeport families can head to the Desert of Maine for the Wander in Terror walk, a Halloween attraction filled with eerie lighting, spooky sounds, and themed scenes from different historical eras. On Halloween day, organizers are adding trick-or-treating, a pumpkin scavenger hunt, a train ride, and other family activities, with extra tickets now released online after earlier sellouts

OCT 27

Municipal Facilities Committee Meeting → Town Hall Council Chambers, 30 Main Street, Freeport 8:00 am

Town Manager's Office Drop-In → 30 Main Street, Freeport 4:00 pm

Tonic, 7 Dunlap St., Brunswick: Open mic with Rexy Dinosaur, 6-8

Meet Us Outside: Walk with Emma. 3PM - 4PM. 33 Skolfield Place, Harpswell

OCT 29

The Art Department · A Conversation with Tim Sample & Linda Rowell-Kelley →
Meetinghouse Arts, 40 Main Street, Freeport
7:00 pm

Maine News Saturday October 24

The Trump administration plans to remove 50% tariffs on some Canadian products. The tariff changes, effective Oct. 30, are a bid to help Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and other Republicans in the coming midterm elections. Duties will be removed on some products used in agriculture, including certain machinery and refrigeration products, packaging and plywood sheets, according to documents posted on the White House website. At the same time, a 50% tariff will be placed on other Canadian goods, including carpet, certain valves and waste products

Press Herald - New solar panels on the roof of Harpswell Community School could start generating electricity this year. Shawn Johansen, director of facilities for Maine School Administrative District 75, said that after contractors receive a few remaining pieces and paperwork is finalized by Central Maine Power, the array will generate about 110,000 kilowatt-hours of energy each year. The electricity will be sold back to CMP rather than going to the building, but the generation will slightly exceed the school’s current usage. A 2026 report by the architecture and engineering firm Harriman said the building used approximately 87,000 kilowatt-hours in the 2024-25 school year.

The electricity will be sold back to CMP rather than going to the building, but the generation will slightly exceed the school’s current usage. A 2026 report by the architecture and engineering firm Harriman said the building used approximately 87,000 kilowatt-hours in the 2024-25 school year.