Maine News Thursday September 24

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. This local assistance program reflects the Town's commitment to helping seniors manage the burden of property taxes. Interested in applying? Applications and eligibility information are available on the Town website or by contacting the Town Office. Town Office: 207-688-4611 

Mortgage rates rose in 37 of the 50 states between Q1 2026 and Q2 2026, the personal-finance company WalletHub today released its new report on the States Where Mortgage Interest Rates Are Increasing the Most, based on proprietary user data.

Maine Stats

• Overall Rank: 44^th

Press Herald -    Bowdoin College has climbed to near the top in a national ranking of higher education institutions, tying for third best liberal arts college. Williams College and Amherst College, both in Massachusetts, were ranked one and two respectively.

The Brunswick school is among seven Maine institutions to appear on the U.S. News and World Report’s 2027 rankings of the country’s best colleges and universities. Third is the highest rank Bowdoin has held, although it last appeared there in 2018. The college dropped to the ninth spot in 2024, and has been rising since.

U.S. News and World Report’s rankings includes separate lists for liberal arts colleges and universities and ranks schools based on factors like graduation rates, how the school is regarded by peer institutions, financial resources and faculty salaries.

On the university list, the public flagship University of Maine sits at 262, five spots below last year and nearly 50 down from its ranking several years ago. It’s now tied with the private University of New England, which climbed more than 30 spots.

JOBS

The Town of Pownal is currently hiring for a full-time Equipment Operator / Laborer position to join our Public Works crew and a part-time administrative assistant to the Road Commissioner. These are great opportunities to be part of a dedicated team that helps keep our community running smoothly year-round. 

Interested applicants can view the job descriptions and download an application on our Employment page:

👉 View Job Opening

• • Rusty Lantern Markets posted a job opening for Food & Beverage Lead - Kitchen Lead in Brunswick. Apply here.
  • Staples, Inc. posted a job opening for Retail Sales Supervisor in Brunswick. Apply here. 
  • You can search for other jobs near Freeport here.

UPCOMING 

Note: In changing our schedule we lost some  links that are useful. In the future we will try to back these up so this doesn't happen again. 

SEP 24

12:30 PM |Calderwood Improved-Access Trail Grand Opening

Discussion Session: Town Sidewalk Maintenance, Care and Responsibility  Town Hall Council Chambers, 30 Main Street, Freeport 1:00 pm

SEP 25
Brickyard Hollow Brewing, 236 Main St., Yarmouth: Vanessa Jones, 6

SEP 26
The Social Goose, 94 Maine St., Brunswick: Nat Hussey with 207 Rhythm Road, 8-11

5PM - 6:30PM  917 Harpswell Neck Road, Harpswell, ME

SEP 27

SEP 30 

On Wednesday, September 30th, Freeport Community Library & RSU5 Community Programs will host a Candidates Forum at Freeport Community Library.  This event will start at 6:00pm.  Join us to hear from candidates for Freeport Town Council, the Water and Sewer Districts, and the RSU5 School Board.

OCT 1

Maine Naturalist and Executive Director of the Maine Humanities Council, Samaa Abdurraqib is the Featured Poet for our October 1st Open Mic Poetry eventaganza. The event will be held at beautiful Meetinghouse Arts at 7:00 PM 

Thursday, October 1, 4:30-6:30 PM, we're bringing back the Great Golf Ball Drop at the state-of-the-art driving range at Maine Golf in Freeport, The event features a $1,000 cash prize for the golf ball closest to the pin, a Longest Drive Contest with $200 prizes for the top-finishing men and women, and special prizes for our youth divisions. golf balls are $5 each or 6 for $25. Each golf ball purchase includes entry into the Longest Drive Contest - (maximum 6 drives per person).  

OCT 2

Mainely Palestine - The Teach-In events at Bowdoin College on Friday, October 2nd, have been cancelled.  ALL Mainely Palestine events will happen on Saturday, October 3, 9 am - 6 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1 Middle Street, in Brunswick.  Details at www.mvprights.org/mainely-palestine

OCT 2-4

Patch - Freeport residents can look forward to the 27th Freeport Fall Festival Oct. 2-4, with five music stages, local food vendors, kids' activities, and a free shuttle linking downtown and L.L.Bean's redesigned flagship store. The piece also spotlights spooky nights and family Halloween fun at the Desert of Maine, plus fall-themed events in nearby Bath and Brunswick.

OCT 4 

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM | 50th Annual Pettengill Family Farm Day - 2026 is the 50th Anniversary of this beloved event! It is going to be an extra-special Farm Day. Live music, delicious food, vintage arts, crafts, and games, farmhouse and trail tours 31 Pettengil Farm Rd, Freeport

OCT 6

6:00 PM | Invasive Species Workshop Learn how to identify and manage invasive plants with experts from Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Bradley Room, Freeport Community Center 

OCT 7
At just 35, Ken Curtis became the nation’s youngest governor, and went on to transform Maine government. Join author Doug Rooks for a talk on his new book, Transformational: Ken Curtis, Maine’s Reform Governor, and discover what Curtis’s leadership can teach us today. Learn more and register.

OCT 10

The Pownal Fire and Rescue Company will be hosting a Bean Supper on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the North Pownal Community Center. Come enjoy a homemade meal consisting of beans, hot dogs, breads, and desserts prepared by department members. Dinner will be served in two sittings.  We look forward to seeing you!

Choose from two dinner seatings:

🕟 4:30 - 5:45 PM

🕕 6:15 - 7:30 PM

Donations: ❤️ $10 (ages 15+)

❤️ $5 (ages 6-15)

❤️ Free for children 5 and under

OCT 24

ANNUAL WOLFE'S NECK CENTER FALL FESTIVAL -  Join us for hayrides, family activities, yoga, local food and more! One ticket secures a wagon ride around campus.