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