BRIEFS: Kids’ Corner Celebrates 35 Years of Early Childhood Education
Severe thunderstorm watch, Fourth of July, new parking lot for Land & garden Preserve, Criterion Theatre reopening celebration, real estate, and more
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Thrive Juice Bar & Kitchen.
A QUICK NOTE FROM US: Each week, we compile briefs and press releases and event images and share them all in one (sometimes very long) story.
Our briefs article is mostly just press releases that we don’t write, or claim to write, but just share from the agencies, businesses, people, and organizations that send them in.
If things are not a press release, they are labelled “BRIEF” in their headlines. The press releases will not have that label.
Kids’ Corner Celebrates 35 Years of Early Childhood Education and Looks Ahead to a Strong Year
BAR HARBOR—Kids’ Corner held its Annual Meeting last week, celebrating a milestone year of growth, community engagement, and renewed leadership. The Board elected Jennifer Calderone as President, following her service in the interim role after former President Kate Jordan stepped down last fall. Dan Skelly will continue as treasurer, and Margo Hutchinson remains secretary.
This year, Kids’ Corner welcomed three new board members—Stephen Knight, Jillian Smith, and Jessamine Santiago—who will continue their terms, bringing fresh insight and energy to the organization.
As Kids’ Corner marks its 35th anniversary, there’s plenty to celebrate:
The reopening of the infant room, expanding care for the youngest members of our community.
Formation of a Buildings and Grounds Committee already making tangible improvements.
The return of family potluck dinners, bringing the KC community closer together.
A surge of volunteer support, reinforcing the strong sense of shared purpose.
Kids’ Corner was also honored to receive a $10,000 grant from the Maine Community Foundation, which helps offset rising healthcare costs for our tenured staff, ensuring continuity and quality in care. Thanks to the Witham Family Fund, new picnic tables and a refreshed gazebo were installed just in time for summer.
“Kids’ Corner has truly bounced back from the challenges of the pandemic,” said Board President Jennifer Calderone. “We’re incredibly proud to have weathered the storm and remained a reliable, high-quality early childhood education center for the families who rely on us. This 35th anniversary reminds us not only of where we’ve been, but where we’re going.”
In a joyful nod to tradition, Kids’ Corner is returning to the Bar Harbor 4th of July parade for the first time in ten years—complete with a float that’s sure to charm!
Executive Director Lori Krupke added, “I am so grateful to our incredible staff for their unwavering dedication, to our Board for their thoughtful leadership, and to this wonderful community that continues to embrace and believe in our little center. Kids’ Corner thrives because of the people who support it. And we can’t wait to share the magic with everyone at this year’s Bar Harbor parade, as we bring back our beloved Mary Poppins float!”
Enrollment is now open! To schedule a tour or learn more about becoming part of the Kids’ Corner community, contact the Center at kidscorner@prexar.com or kidscornerbarharbor.org.
New Parking Lot for Land and Garden Preserve’s Day Mountain, Hunter’s Beach, and Hunter’s Cliffs Trails
The Land & Garden Preserve, who according to their website, "manages and lovingly cares for 1400 acres of historic, public lands, gardens, and trails on Mount Desert Island, Maine," has a new parking lot.
Those wishing to enjoy the Day Mountain trail, the Hunter's Cliffs trail, or the Hunter's Beach trail can now park their vehicle in a much more roomy and safer spot.
The new parking lot is approximately 1,000 feet to the east of the old pull out area.
MDEA disrupts drug network in Hancock and Washington Counties
ELLSWORTH—The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency announces the arrest of three people following a traffic stop and search warrant in the City of Ellsworth, Maine.
Arrested:
George Pickard (35) of Franklin – Class A Aggravated Trafficking of Fentanyl and Cocaine. Picard was currently released on probation for Class A Aggravated Trafficking. No bail and held on probation.
Kathryn Christensen (32) of Gouldsboro – Class A Aggravated Trafficking of Cocaine HCL, Cocaine Base and Fentanyl. At the time of her arrest, Christensen was free on 2 sets of bail which included unlawful possession of methamphetamine, cocaine base and Oxycodone (Class C) and for violation of conditions of release (Class E). No bail.
Sharod Nunes (46) of Lewiston – Class A Aggravated Trafficking of Cocaine, Cocaine Base (crack) and Fentanyl. No bail.
On Wednesday afternoon, July 2, 2025, drug agents assigned to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency Downeast Drug Task Force based in Ellsworth continued a lengthy investigation into a drug distribution network operating throughout Hancock and Washington Counties. During the investigation, agents conducted surveillance at an Ellsworth area hotel that led to a motor vehicle stop by the Maine State Police on US Route 1 in Ellsworth at approximately 12:11pm. The 2022 Harley Davidson motorcycle was operated by George Pickard of Franklin. As a result of the stop, a search of Mr. Pickard was conducted pursuant to the conditions of his probation. Pickard was currently on probation for a prior Unlawful Trafficking conviction. As a result of the search, Pickard was found to be in possession of 179.2 ggw (gross gram weight) of suspected cocaine HCl, 118.1ggw of fentanyl and $6,465.00 in suspected drug proceeds. Pickard was transported to the Hancock County Jail without incident.
After Pickard’s arrest, drug agents and members of the Ellsworth Police Department continued surveillance at the Ellsworth hotel Pickard was observed leaving. Based on information gathered during the investigation, agents drafted and executed a search warrant at the Ellsworth hotel at approximately 1:39 p.m. As a result, agents seized 11.8g of fentanyl, 10.7ggw of cocaine base (crack), 49.1ggw of cocaine and approximately $6,465.00 in suspected drug proceeds from the hotel room.
In total agents seized 228.3ggw Cocaine, 129.9ggw fentanyl, 10.7ggw Cocaine Base (Crack) and $12,930.00 in suspected drug proceeds. The estimated street value of the drugs is over $36,000.00
More arrests and charges are expected based on this investigation.
Maine Drug Enforcement’s Down East Task Force was assisted by Maine State Police, Ellsworth Police Department, US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Maine Probation & Parole.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The MDEA stands committed to working with all federal, state, county, and local law enforcement partners in order to continue to identify and disrupt drug trafficking organizations who are attempting to distribute illicit drugs like fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine in the State of Maine.
If you or someone you know suffers from substance, use disorder, please call 211 or text your zip code to 898-211 for a list of resources available in your area.
If you have information about this investigation or the illegal sale of drugs in your community, you are urged to contact the Maine Drug Enforcement office closest to you or by texting MDEA to TIP411 (847411) or by calling the MDEA tip-line at 1-800-452-6457.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch For July 3 for Hancock County.
There is a severe thunderstorm watch from 10:41 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. EDT
Action Recommended
Attend to information sources as described in the instructions
Issued By
Caribou - ME, US, National Weather Service
Affected Area
Hancock County
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 483 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN MAINE THIS WATCH INCLUDES 5 COUNTIES IN DOWNEAST MAINE HANCOCK WASHINGTON IN EAST CENTRAL MAINE PENOBSCOT IN NORTH CENTRAL MAINE PISCATAQUIS IN NORTHERN MAINE AROOSTOOK THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF BANGOR, BAR HARBOR, BREWER, CARIBOU, DOVER-FOXCROFT, EASTPORT, ELLSWORTH, GREENVILLE, GUILFORD, HOULTON, MACHIAS, MADAWASKA, MILO, OLD TOWN, ORONO, AND PRESQUE ISLE.
Brief: State of Maine 2025 Catalyst Program Awards One Million Dollars to MDI Hospital
BAR HARBOR—In a June 23 statement, the Northern Border Region announced its monetary awards to various organizations and programs engaging in community development projects in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. Congress formed the NBRC in 2008.
It is meant to “fund promising economic and community development projects” in those states.
Mount Desert Island Hospital received one million dollars toward is campus modernizations in Bar Harbor and Southwest Harbor facility renovation.
CRITERION REOPENING CELEBRATION THIS SATURDAY!
BAR HARBOR—To officially kick off its new chapter together in the community, the Criterion Theatre is hosting a Reopening Celebration on July 5 as a pre-show gathering before The Mother Hips and Leslie Mendelson concert.
In addition to the two incredible acts (trust us!), it will be a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and mingle as a community, and share the vision for the future of the Criterion and its role in supporting arts and music on MDI more generally.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. to ticket-holders for the pre-show celebration with complimentary champagne and beer. Music will kick off at 8pm.
Tickets available now!
FRIENDS OF ACADIA EVENTS
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—Friends of Acadia is hosting multiple upcoming events.
July 3: Eddie Monat, aka "Diver Ed," will be speaking at Pints for a Purposes
Join Friends of Acadia at Terramor each Thursday for a free weekly speaker series. This Thursday, hear some fun fish tales from Eddie Monat (aka "Diver Ed"), a commercial dive and scuba instructor, former Bar Harbor harbormaster, and Smithsonian marine ecologist. $1 from every beer sold benefits Friends of Acadia.
July 6: Mary Louise Pierson photography retrospective at The Gallery at Somes Sound
Friends of Acadia and The Gallery at Somes Sound invite you to a special reception on Sunday, July 6 from 4–6 PM to honor the lives and legacies of Mary Louise Pierson (1954–2024), acclaimed photographer, and Ann Rockefeller Roberts (1934–2024), author and activist.
The event will open a commemorative exhibit of Pierson’s photography, featuring works from Acadia National Park and the Rockefeller Family Home, Kykuit. The exhibit will run through July 31. All are welcome to attend and reflect on the enduring impact of these remarkable women. A portion of proceeds from the exhibit will benefit Friends of Acadia.
July 9: Join Friends of Acadia for their annual meeting
Join Friends of Acadia for the organization's annual meeting on Wednesday, July 9, at 4 p.m. at the Bar Harbor Club to celebrate last year's collective accomplishments and hear updates about what’s happening in the park. The annual meeting is an opportunity to gather in a room full of people who love Acadia National Park and to celebrate amazing work and the people who make it all happen.
If you're not yet a member, please still join! Membership sign-up and renewal will be available at the event.
RSVP at https://friendsofacadia.org/meeting or email lynn@friendsofacadia.org.
LIZ CUTLER SHOW
BAR HARBOR—The MDI Hospital Cafeteria is hosting a solo exhibition by Liz Cutler, titled “Paintings of Monhegan.” The show runs through the end of July.
Liz Cutler, a year-round ocean swimmer and Mount Desert Island resident, approaches painting as both a visual and physical experience. Her connection to Maine’s coast is immersive—shaped by the rhythm of swimming, shifting weather, and ever-changing light. In this new series, she turns her attention to Monhegan Island, another place celebrated for its ability to draw artists into its wild, elemental embrace.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the tension and continual shifts between the natural world and human intervention,” Cutler says. “I can return to the same place and encounter a completely different sense of presence and mood.”
Her paintings, layered and expressive, reflect this ongoing conversation. With this body of work, Cutler joins the thread of artists whose deep engagement with place transforms observation into something more experiential. The result is art that’s at once contemplative and provocative—rooted in curiosity and an invitation to look more closely.
The exhibition is open to the public during cafeteria hours and is part of MDI Hospital’s ongoing commitment to showcasing local artists. For more information, visit www.lizcutler.com.
Celebrated Maine Poets Hold Public Reading and Discussion
NORTHEAST HARBOR—On Wednesday, July 16, at 5:30 p.m. the Northeast Harbor Library will host a free reading and discussion with poets Hans Krichels and Bill Carpenter.
Reflecting on over five decades of writing and thoughtful observation, Krichels and Carpenter will weave readings from the extensive catalogs into discussion with each other and the audience.
Hans Krichels came to Maine almost fifty years ago, where he and his family built their own house, raised two fine daughters along with dairy goats and organic vegetables, and did their best to carve a niche for themselves in their community at large. Throughout it all, he worked at various jobs – as a teacher, a newspaper reporter, a mason’s tender, a signmaker, a woodcarver, a photographer, and always, in one form or another, a writer.
Bill Carpenter, born and raised in New England, began publishing poetry in 1976. He won the Associated Writing Program’s Contemporary Poetry Award just four years later in 1980, followed by the Samuel French Morse Prize in 1985 and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. He moved to Maine in 1972 to help found the College of the Atlantic, a school dedicated to human ecology and the environment, where he served on the faculty for 48 years.
Register at nehlibrary.org/events or by calling 207-276-3333.
National Parks Book Launch Event Announced
NORTHEAST HARBOR– On Tuesday, July 8 at 5:30 p.m. the Northeast Harbor Library and Friends of Acadia will host a book launch event for author Steve Kemp’s newest work: An Exaltation of Parks: John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s Crusade to Save America's Wonderlands.
America’s national parks are facing unprecedented challenges. With visitation pressures mounting and the National Park Service struggling to keep up, author and former park ranger Steve Kemp looks toward one exceptionally effective historical example of conservation philanthropy and park building—the collaboration between John D. Rockefeller Jr. and NPS legends Stephen Mather, Horace Albright, and Arno Cammerer.
Books will be available for sale and signing. Register at nehlibrary.org/events or by calling 207-276-3333.
Infants & iPads: Northeast Harbor Library To Host NeuroEthics Lecture
NORTHEAST HARBOR—On Wednesday, July 2 at 5:30 p.m. the Northeast Harbor Library will host a free lecture on neuroethics titled “Infants & iPads” with Edward F. Moreau M.D., MSt.
Moreau will discuss the effects on electronic screen stimulation on toddlers (ages 5 and under) during critical brain development and related ethical questions. The presentation will be followed by time for questions and discussion with the audience.
Register at nehlibrary.org/events or by calling 207-276-3333.
Medical trailblazers talk serendipity and science
BAR HARBOR — Dr. Jessie Stone’s 20+ years experience bringing medical care to a Least Developed Country are the focus of College of the Atlantic’s Coffee & Conversation July 22, “Delivering Healthcare for the Under-Resourced In Uganda: What it Takes.”
Stone sits down with Jackson Laboratory Scientific Director Nadia Rosenthal at 9:30 a.m. at the Davis Center for Human Ecology and online via livestream. Registration is required at coa.edu/coffeeandconversation.
Stone founded Soft Power Health in 2004, a nonprofit, full-service medical clinic providing primary and preventative healthcare in Kyabirwa, Uganda. The clinic has a staff of 100 Ugandans, including doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and administrative staff, providing essential medical care in eastern Uganda, near Lake Victoria, in Kyabirwa Village. The clinic treats upwards of 38,000 patients a year and provides outreach/community medical care and education to an additional 20,000.
Soft Power Health also operates six dedicated holistic health education outreach programs for malaria, malnutrition, family planning, domestic violence, organic gardening, and physiotherapy.
Rosenthal is a world-renowned scientist and professor. She obtained her Ph.D. from Harvard Medical School, where she later directed a biomedical research laboratory, then established and headed the European Molecular Biology Laboratory campus in Rome. Rosenthal innovates the use of complex mouse genetic diversity panels to investigate mammalian development, disease, and repair, particularly in cardiovascular and skeletal muscle. Her research has advanced regenerative medicine by elucidating the role of growth factors, stem cells and the immune system in tissue healing after injury. Her book, Heart Development and Regeneration (Academic Press, 2010), is considered the definitive text in the field.
The Coffee & Conversation series features discussions between invited guests and College of the Atlantic faculty members and trustees. The series hosts authors, entrepreneurs, scholars, artists, researchers, thought leaders, and more. Sessions are one hour long, and include a Q&A session. Coffee and pastries are served. Coffee & Conversation events are free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required for both in person and online participation.
PVC TEAMS!
BRIEF: WEIR FAMILY NEWS!
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—The Weir family keeps making news and doing cool things.
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND AND BEYOND—MDI graduate Jameson Weir in the middle (of the picture above) arrives in Halifax Nova Scotia Saturday on the TS Kennedy MMA summer cruise.
MDI Graduate and Senior Captain Lelia Weir leads her team into the 2025 season.
If you have news about your MDI-region family, please send it in to us if you’d like so we can share it for you.
Hancock Dems Annual Picnic and Potluck Monthly Meeting
July 17 @ 6:00 p.m., Harbor Park and Marina, 413 Water Street, Ellsworth
ELLSWORTH—The Hancock County Democratic Committee monthly meeting will include some music and a potluck picnic in and around the gazebo in Harbor Park at 413 Water Street in Ellsworth. There is also a food truck available. The primary goal of the meeting is just to have a fun and relaxing time with fellow Democrats. There will be a brief business meeting and then talks from two young and committed Democrats, CarmenLaHaye, who just graduated from Ellsworth High School, will talk about her work as an HCDC intern and how her generation receives news, and Rob Faucher, chairman and chief organizer of the New Ellsworth Democrats, will talk about hope for the future and how Democrats can win again. Troy Jackson will be there as our first 2026 gubernatorial candidate to introduce himself and speak briefly to our membership.
Please visit 2025 HCDC Program Schedule
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
BAR HARBOR
• Joshua Blaisdell and Ronni Arno Blaisdell, Camden to Scott D. Boucher and Dena I. Boucher, Bangor, as joint tenants, land with improvements.
• Clifford H. Zucker, Altamont, N.Y., Mark S. Zucker, Ferndale, Mich., Robert G. Zucker, Belchertown, Mass., and Diane Pineiro-Zucker, Saugerties, N.Y., to Brian Provost, Bourbonnais, Ill., land with buildings and improvements.
LAMOINE
• Harold MacQuinn Inc., Hancock to town of Lamoine, Lamoine, land with buildings and improvements.
• Green-Loft Joint Trust, Lamoine to Maude Green-Loft, Lamoine, land with improvements.
MOUNT DESERT
• Edi B. Hall, Mount Desert Island to Matthew R. Hall, Bar Harbor, land with buildings and improvements.
• Stacie Adkins, Roanoke, Va., to Stacie Adkins and Farrell Adkins, Roanoke, Va., as joint tenants, land with buildings and improvements.
• Angel Maldonado and Lee Maldonado, Southwest Harbor to Stacie Adkins, Roanoke, Va., land with buildings and improvements.
• Jackson E. Gillman Trust-2017, Onset, Mass., to Somes Pond Realty LLC, Falmouth, land with buildings and improvements.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR
• Estate of Patricia J. Lovely to Harbor Ridge Condominium Association, Southwest Harbor, time-share estate at Harbor Ridge Condominium, Southwest Harbor, unit 38, week 47.
• Bruce A. Barker and Emily L. Barker, Lincoln to David J. Ezzio and Theresa L. LaPlante, Cumberland, as joint tenants, 50% interest, timeshare estate at Harbor Ridge Condominium, Southwest Harbor, unit 47, week 27.
• Beverly A. Tapley, Southwest Harbor to Tapley Family Realty Trust, land.
• Beverly A. Tapley, Southwest Harbor to Tapley Family Realty Trust, land.
• Ann R. Bradford, Bar Harbor to Paul H. Lunsford and Sarah M. Lunsford, Southwest Harbor, as joint tenants, land with buildings and improvements.
TREMONT
• Wesley W. Mowry Revocable Trust, Sterling, Mass., to Thania Benios and David Schneider, New York, N.Y., as joint tenants, land with buildings and improvements.
TRENTON
• Estate of Ronald N. Ruoss, Biddeford to Waterfront Homes LLC, Trenton, land with buildings.
• Paula A. Lawrence, Devon, United Kingdom, to Clive John Lawrence, Devon, United Kingdom, land with improvements.
STATE PRESS RELEASES
Maine CDC Prepares for Active Mosquito Season
Prevent Mosquito-Borne Diseases
AUGUSTA—After a rainy start to summer, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC)urges residents and visitors to prevent mosquito bites. Warm and rainy weather can lead to high mosquito activity and higher risk of illness from mosquitoes.
Infected mosquitoes can spread three viruses in Maine: Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEE), Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV), and West Nile virus (WNV).
Maine had an elevated mosquito-borne disease season last year, including one person who tested positive for EEE and two for WNV. Earlier this year, the Maine CDC reported one case of JCV in a Maine resident.
Many people who get these mosquito-borne diseases show no symptoms. Others only experience mild flu-like symptoms, but some people can be severely ill. About half of people with severe symptoms need extra care in the hospital. Severe symptoms can include:
Vomiting
Neck stiffness
Loss of coordination
Speech difficulties
Confusion
Seizures
Brain swelling (encephalitis)
Swelling of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
If untreated, some severe infections can lead to death and survivors may have long-term health problems. If you experience any of these symptoms following a mosquito bite, call a health care provider right away.
Mosquitoes are active in Maine, so now is the time to take steps to prevent mosquito bites. The Maine CDC recommends:
Wearing long sleeves and long pants.
Using an EPA-approved insect repellent on skin and clothes.
Taking extra precautions at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
Using screens on windows and doors.
Draining artificial sources of standing water where mosquitoes lay eggs.
Taking steps to prevent mosquito bites when traveling.
Maine does not have the kinds of mosquitoes that spread viruses like Dengue, Zika, Oropouche, and Chikungunya, but people can still get infected with these viruses while traveling. If you feel sick within a week after a trip, tell your health care provider about where you visited.
Talk to your veterinarian about ways to keep animals safe from mosquitoes. If you have horses, ask about vaccinations against EEE and WNV.
The Maine CDC tests mosquitoes for EEE, JCV, and WNV through the summer and fall months, starting in June. Find weekly arboviral surveillance reports at www.maine.gov/dhhs/vectorborne.
For More Information:
Visit Maine CDC's vector-borne disease webpage.
View answers to frequently asked questions about mosquito-borne diseases.
Find information on insect repellents.
Maine Game Wardens and Marine Patrol Officers will have an increased presence on Maine's waterways from Kittery to the Canadian border July 4-6, 2025 as part of Operation Dry Water
AUGUSTA—Operation Dry Water, a national awareness and enforcement campaign, raises awareness of the dangers of boating under the influence and removes impaired operators from our nation's waterways.
Boaters enjoying Maine’s waters this Fourth of July weekend should remember:
Alcohol is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating fatalities and a significant cause of on-the-water incidents (Source: U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics 2023).
Boating under the influence (BUI) is illegal. Operating a recreational vessel with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher is against Maine law.
Boating under the influence applies to both drugs and alcohol. Even some prescription medications can make operating a recreational vessel difficult and unsafe. It is important to check with your doctor about the potential side effects of any medications you might be taking.
Alcohol can impair a boater's judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time. It can also increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of cold water immersion.
Sun, wind, noise, vibration, and motion—common stressors in the boating environment—can intensify the side effects of alcohol, drugs, and some medications.
The mission of Operation Dry Water is to reduce the number of alcohol- and drug-related incidents and fatalities through increased recreational boater awareness and by fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol use on the water.
GOV. MILLS STATEMENT ON FEDERAL BUDGET
AUGUSTA—Governor Janet Mills today issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the 2025 Federal budget reconciliation bill:
"The President's so-called 'Big Beautiful Bill' -- advanced by Republicans in the U.S. Senate -- will take away health care from tens of thousands of Maine people, jeopardize our rural hospitals, restrict access to reproductive health care, slash vital food assistance for thousands of Maine families, and further drive-up energy costs that are already too high. The bill will dramatically shift costs from the Federal government to the State of Maine -- costs that our state cannot absorb, imperiling our state's balanced budget and the Maine economy.
"Last year, the President campaigned on bringing down the cost of living, and yet the cost of living has only gone up. And now, this legislation finances massive tax cuts for the wealthy on the backs of everyday Maine people and balloons the federal deficit by trillions of dollars, while doing nothing to bring down the cost of groceries, cars, materials, and other everyday goods. President Trump and Republicans are going to hurt a lot of Maine people with this bill, especially those in rural Maine."
Governor Mills has previously warned that the Federal budget reconciliation bill would have dire consequences for Maine people. Last week, the Governor sent the attached letter to Maine's Congressional Delegation warning about the bill's impacts on the health and safety of Maine people and Maine's economy. In the letter, the Governor pointed out that about 392,000 Maine people -- including about 40 percent of the population in Aroostook, Washington, and Somerset Counties -- receive healthcare through Medicaid. In May, the Governor warned that the bill's proposed cuts to Medicaid would be "devastating." The bill requires final passage by the U.S. House of Representatives.
Governor Mills Signs Legislation to Establish Maine Department of Energy Resources
AUGUSTA—Governor Janet Mills has signed LD 1270 to create the Maine Department of Energy Resources, a new cabinet-level department that will lead State-level energy policy and programs, coordinate across State agencies and regional partners, engage with stakeholders, and address energy opportunities and challenges for Maine.
The Department, proposed by the Governor earlier this year, will address complex energy challenge facing Maine, such as affordability, grid reliability, and aging infrastructure, while planning for a strong and secure energy future. The creation of the department was a budget-neutral initiative during a tight budget cycle.
"Maine families and businesses deserve access to energy they can count on and afford -- and establishing the Maine Department of Energy Resources is an important step toward an energy future that works for Maine people,"said Governor Janet Mills. "This new department will allow the State to build a long-term approach for Maine's energy needs, respond quickly to emerging challenges, and strengthen regional and national energy partnerships to benefit our people and economy."
The Department of Energy Resources will expand upon the work of the Governor's Energy Office (GEO), which currently leads state energy planning and policy coordination. Building on the Maine Energy Plan released earlier this year by GEO, the Department will advance strategies to reduce costs, strengthen reliability, and improve resilience across Maine's energy systems. Consistent with practices in other states, the Department is also authorized to conduct competitive energy procurements to advance new, cost-effective clean energy projects that are approved by the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
"This is a major milestone for Maine's energy future. By creating a cabinet-level energy department, Maine is preparing not just for the challenges of today, but for what lies ahead," said Dan Burgess, Director of the Governor's Energy Office. "Energy decisions affect the cost and reliability of power for every Maine household and business. The new department can help ensure those decisions are carefully planned, future-ready, and focused on Maine's needs."
Maine's energy office, originally called the Maine Office of Energy Resources, was established by law more than 50 years ago in 1973. Until now, Maine was the only state in New England, and only one of a handful of states in the U.S., with a designated energy office located within its Governor's office. More than 40 states have energy offices with cabinet-level leadership. Elevating the office to a department was a priority for previous Maine governors. During the LePage Administration in 2017, House Republicans put forward legislation to remove the Energy Office from the Governor's Office and establish an energy seat in the Cabinet.
LD 1270 was supported by a wide range of stakeholders and business and environmental organizations at a public hearing before the Maine Legislature's Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee during the 132nd session.
"Establishing the Maine Department of Energy Resources recognizes the essential role energy plays in people's daily lives," said Senator Mark Lawrence and Representative Melanie Sachs, co-chairs of the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. "It stands as one of the most important outcomes of this legislative session for Maine's energy future. The new department will strengthen Maine's ability to plan for the long-term while being responsive to future needs by laying out a transparent framework for procuring adequate energy supply while controlling energy costs and building Maine's energy economy."
"This bill is not about creating something new for its own sake," said Representative Gerry Runte, the sponsor of the bill. "It's about organizing what we already do more effectively, so our policy goals are implemented through a clear, coordinated, and accountable structure. This will better equip the State to evaluate emerging technologies, respond to market changes, and achieve policy objectives with greater clarity and consistency."
"Creating this new department is an important step that reflects the complexities of the energy system and its importance to Maine's economy and future,"said Patrick Woodcock, President and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. "Elevating energy to the Governor's Cabinet will strengthen coordination, improve planning, and provide clear energy policy leadership for the state. The Maine State Chamber of Commerce appreciates the Governor's leadership and looks forward to collaborating on energy solutions that support affordability, reliability, and economic growth."
"Governor Mills' energy leadership through smart policy and planning continues with the creation of the Maine Department of Energy Resources, a move that elevates and strengthens the role of Maine's energy office," said David Terry, President of the National Association of State Energy Officials. "Through this legislation, Maine joins a growing number of states where leaders on both sides of the aisle are elevating state energy offices to support cost-effective and cleaner energy solutions."
The impact of energy prices and reliability on Maine people is significant. Maine is the most heating fuel reliant state in the nation and spends more than $4.5 billion on imported petroleum annually, including heating oil and gasoline. A recent study on the potential impact of energy tariffs (PDF) commissioned by GEO found that Maine people spend an estimated 60 percent more on household space and water heating than the average American, and energy imports represent more than half of Maine's total energy consumption. The threat of tariffs on imported energy along with increased storm frequency and outages are just a few of the challenges currently facing Maine's energy system.
In recent years, the Maine Legislature has expanded GEO's responsibilities, and the office has been awarded more than $200 million in Federal funding to support grid resilience and innovation, energy efficiency, and workforce development, among other key investments for Maine. The new Maine Department of Energy Resources will continue GEO's core duties related to energy resources, policies, planning, data, markets, energy security, and program implementation. It will also maintain coordination with state agencies, the PUC, and regional and federal partners.
Under the new legislation, the department's expanded procurement authority will create a transparent, data-driven process with clear timelines, defined roles for the department and the PUC, and a consistent review standard. This approach will help lower costs for ratepayers, ensure a reliable and diverse energy supply, attract investment, and advance Maine's economic and energy goals.
The Department is expected to formally launch later this year. As with all cabinet-level positions, the Department will be led by a commissioner appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the appropriate legislative committee and Legislature.
MAINE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NEWS
Legislative Update - $50,000,000 Water Quality Bond Carried Over.
AUGUSTA—The Department of Environmental Protection submitted legislation for a $50,000,000 bond that would provide grants to publicly owned treatment works for infrastructure projects facilitating proper management and disposal of wastewater sludge or biosolids, such as dryer and digestor projects.
The legislature recently adjourned without taking up the 20 general fund bonds that were introduced this session, including LD 25, An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Fund Wastewater Treatment Facility Planning and Construction of Infrastructure Projects. LD 25 will likely be carried over to the next legislative session starting in January 2026. Additional information will be provided once the next legislative session convenes.
Thanks to everyone who has worked on this important issue.
Questions on this issue should be directed to Brian Kavanah, Director of the Bureau of Water Quality, brian.w.kavanah@maine.gov, 530-0293.
FEDERAL PRESS RELEASES
Senator Collins’ Statement on the Senate Reconciliation Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued the following statement after her vote against passage of the Senate Reconciliation Bill:
“I strongly support extending the tax relief for families and small businesses. My vote against this bill stems primarily from the harmful impact it will have on Medicaid, affecting low-income families and rural health care providers like our hospitals and nursing homes.
“The Medicaid program has been an important health care safety net for nearly 60 years that has helped people in difficult financial circumstances, including people with disabilities, children, seniors, and low-income families. Approximately 400,000 Mainers – nearly a third of the state's population – depend on this program. Certainly, there are improvements that should be made to the Medicaid system. For example, I support work requirements for able-bodied adults who are not raising young children, who are not caregivers, or attending school. However, a dramatic reduction in future Medicaid funding, an estimated $5.9 billion in Maine over the next 10 years, could threaten not only Mainers’ access to health care, but also the very existence of several of our state’s rural hospitals.
“This bill has additional problems. The tax credits that energy entrepreneurs have relied on should have been gradually phased out so as not to waste the work that has already been put into these innovative new projects and prevent them from being completed. The bill should have also retained incentives for Maine families who choose to install heat pumps and residential solar panels.
“I am pleased that the bill contains a special fund that I proposed to provide some assistance to our rural hospitals, but it is not sufficient to offset the other changes in the Medicaid system. While I continue to support the tax relief I voted for in 2017, I could not support these Medicaid changes and other issues.”
Senator Collins, Bipartisan Group Introduce Bill to Strengthen Services for Seniors
Bill would reauthorize the Older Americans Act, strengthening critical programs for seniors.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined a bipartisan group of her Senate colleagues in introducing the Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization Act, legislation that renews funding and strengthens services for American seniors. Senator Collins is an original cosponsor of the bill, and she was a member of the bipartisan working group that authored this legislation.
Since 1965, the OAA has supported and improved the lives of seniors—particularly those who are low-income—through programs that promote nutrition, improve transportation options, support caregivers, offer employment and community service opportunities, and prevent abuse and neglect. This critical law was last reauthorized in 2020.
“Programs established by the Older Americans Act play a vital role in supporting the health, well-being, and independence of our nation’s seniors,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan bill reaffirms our commitment to older Americans and ensures that these critical programs will continue to meet their needs.”
Specifically, this legislation would reauthorize OAA programs through Fiscal Year 2030 and make improvements to promote innovation and flexibility, strengthen program integrity, and better support family caregivers and direct care workers. The bill also takes steps to better serve Tribal seniors and those with disabilities in their communities.
The OAA authorizes an array of services through a network of 56 State Units on Aging and more than 600 Area Agencies on Aging serving older Americans throughout the nation. In the last year alone, OAA programs served more than 12 million caregivers and older adults, including providing more than 2.4 million seniors with at-home or congregate meals.
In addition to Senator Collins, the bill was introduced by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rick Scott (R-FL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Edward Markey (D-MA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM).
The complete text of the bill can be read here.
Senator Collins’ Statement on Iran War Powers Resolution
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued the following statement prior to the Senate vote on the War Powers Resolution offered by Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia:
“Since the despicable attacks on October 7, 2023, Iran has continued to use proxies and empowered terrorist groups to attack American servicemembers and our ally Israel. This week, Iran threatened to attack Americans on our own soil and around the world.
“I supported the President’s targeted strike on Iran’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities because a nuclear-armed Iran would pose an unacceptable threat to America and our allies. I also applaud the current ceasefire. Given this backdrop, it is the wrong time to consider this resolution and to risk inadvertently sending a message to Iran that the President cannot swiftly defend Americans at home and abroad.
“There has always been a Constitutional tension between Article I vesting in Congress the power to declare war and Article II designating the President as Commander-in-Chief. I continue to believe that Congress has an important responsibility to authorize the sustained use of military force. That is not the situation we are facing now. The President has the authority to defend our nation and our troops around the world against the threat of attack.”
Senator Collins Announces the Nomination of Joshua Dunlap to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that Joshua Dunlap, of Scarborough, Maine, has been nominated by President Donald Trump to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
In February, Senator Collins established a Federal Appointments Advisory Committee to evaluate candidates for Senate-confirmed positions in Maine. As the senior Republican member of Maine’s congressional delegation, Senator Collins is advising the Trump Administration as it selects candidates for federal positions in the state, and the Committee’s recommendations are an integral part of that process.
“Mr. Joshua Dunlap was a top candidate recommended by my Federal Appointments Advisory Committee for this important position. Mr. Dunlap currently serves as a Partner at Pierce Atwood LLP where he co-chairs the firm’s Appellate & Amici team. His wealth of appellate experience, along with his intelligence and temperament, make him an excellent choice to serve on the federal bench,” said Senator Collins. “A native of Vassalboro, now living in Scarborough, he will serve Maine well in this critical role. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to swiftly confirm Mr. Dunlap.”
He has practiced at Pierce Atwood for over fifteen years, handling substantial civil litigation matters in both appellate and trial courts.
His practice in federal and state courts has involved a wide range of common law, statutory, and constitutional claims. Mr. Dunlap currently serves as the chair for the Maine Appellate Rules Committee, to which he was appointed by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.
As an associate, Mr. Dunlap assisted multiple special masters, including the Honorable William J. Kayatta, Jr., and Ralph I. Lancaster, Jr., in overseeing original jurisdiction proceedings before the Supreme Court of the United States.
Prior to returning to Pierce Atwood, Mr. Dunlap clerked for the Honorable Paul J. Kelly, Jr., of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Mr. Dunlap graduated from the Notre Dame Law School, where he was the first in his class.
Follow us on Facebook. And as a reminder, you can easily view all our past stories and press releases here.
If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here (about how you can give) or here (a direct link), which is the same as the button below.
If you’d like to sponsor the Bar Harbor Story, you can! Learn more here.