Want to Cook Out With Some Cops? Learn About the Mount Desert Paving Schedule? Maybe Audition? Hear About the Trenton Select Board Meeting?
Check out these briefs and press releases and so much more.
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. You may have to click through to read it all
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. Also, if you or your organization has something you’d like us to share, just email us here.
Cookout with the Cops -Updated
Sunday, Sep. 7, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
NORTHEAST HARBOR—Due to the weather forecast for Sunday, the location of the cookout has been changed to the Neighborhood House.
The Neighborhood House is teaming up with the Mt. Desert Police Association for their second annual End of Summer Cookout. They’ll be serving up burgers, hot dogs and much more at the Neighborhood House. The entire community is invited to come enjoy this FREE lunch.
BRIEF: Trenton Select Board Chooses Winter Sand Provider
TRENTON—In an approximately 10-minute-long meeting on Tuesday, September 2, the Trenton Select Board heard an update from Fire Chief Steve Heckman, opened three bids for winter sand, and chose a sand provider.
Snare Creek Farms, a proposed recreational cannabis seller, which was a select board agenda discussion item, did not show up for the second meeting in a row.
Sand Bids
There were three bids to provide winter sand for roads and town parking lots, which shocked many of the select board members because they normally don’t receive that many replies.
BFP trucking – $14.50 per yard
R.F. Jordan – $16.90 per yard
Tracy Brothers – $14.00 per yard
The board unanimously voted to accept the bid from Tracy Brothers, which also provided the town’s sand last year and also at $14 per yard.
Other Business
The first couple of minutes of the select board meeting’s Zoom broadcast had no volume so Chief Heckman’s comments could not be heard. The fire chief did not respond to an email asking if he had updated the select board on anything of importance.
The board then voted to pay bills and then entered into an executive session to discuss personnel matters.
The next meeting of the Trenton Select Board is scheduled for September 16 at 6:55 p.m., at the town office.
Return to Winter Refuse Schedule
MOUNT DESERT—The Town of Mount Desert’s summer trash collection schedule will end on Saturday, September 6, 2025. This will be the last week for twice a week collection. The winter trash collection schedule starts Monday, September 8, 2025. Trash will be collected once a week as of this date.
The collection schedule is available in the Town Report and on the front page of the town’s website. Please go to the bottom left of the page and look for "Trash and Recycling" information tab. You may call the “Garbage Hotline” at 276-5733 to leave a message regarding trash collection.
Mount Desert Paving Schedule Announced
MOUNT DESERT—Paving will begin on road resurfacing work Thursday, September 11, 2025, starting with:
Sinclair Road
Tennis Club Road
Millbrook Road
This phase of work is expected to take approximately two days, depending on weather and site conditions.
Tentative Schedule for the Week of September 15:
Beech Hill Road
Beech Hill Cross Road
Parker Farm Road
Patterson Hill Road
Hibbard’s Hill
Please Note: Temporary one-lane closures and detours may occur throughout the project. This schedule is subject to change due to weather, equipment availability, and other unforeseen factors. Updates will be provided as needed.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to improve local roadways. For questions or updates, please contact:
April O’Neal 207-276-5743, pwoffice@mtdesert.org
ARTWAVES IN SEPTEMBER
ACADIA NIGHT SKY BOAT CRUISE
HISTORY HAPPY HOUR
NORTHEAST HARBOR—Are you a master of historical trivia, a fan of fantastic stories, or a novice know-it-all? Join us at 5:30 pm on Friday, September 19 at the Nor’Easter, 10 Huntington Rd, Northeast Harbor, for the MDI Historical Society’s September History Happy Hour.
This month's event will challenge you to 4 rounds of food and dining-related trivia, testing your knowledge of MDI’s historic menus and recipes, public suppers, and much more. Review the 2025 food-themed edition of our history journal, Chebacco, to get a leg up on the competition!
Gather over good eats and good times while putting your knowledge to the test. All ages are welcome! Admission is free. Food and drink will be available for purchase.
Please register at www.mdihistory.org/events
Audition Announcement – Acadia Community Theater
NORTHEAST HARBOR—Acadia Community Theater is excited to bring A Christmas Story to the stage this holiday season!
Audition Dates & Times: Thursday, September 11 • 6:00 – 8:00 PM Saturday, September 13 • 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Northeast Harbor Library
Who Can Audition: Adults and children ages 8 and up (at the time of production).
Performance Dates: The first two weekends of December.
Rehearsals: Monday & Thursday evenings (6–8 PM) and Saturday afternoons (1–4 PM). Location TBD. Join us in bringing this beloved holiday classic to life! No prior theater experience is required—just enthusiasm and a love of storytelling. For questions or more information, please get in touch with Acadia Community Theater, acadiacommunitytheater@gmail.com
Kippy Stroud Artist-in-Residence Lecture features Cedra Wood
BAR HARBOR—College of the Atlantic artist in residence Cedra Wood shares her work and discusses her vision at the 2025 COA Kippy Stroud Artist-in-Residence Public Lecture on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the Thomas S. Gates, Jr. Community Center.
Wood is an artist in love with the wilderness and the complex and lonely terrain of the human heart. She makes paintings and drawings that marry the elements of both worlds in unlikely ways, creating narrative metaphors for humanity’s relationships with the environment.
Wood grew up in the Texas panhandle, and after receiving her MFA at the University of New Mexico, has pivoted around NM while participating in numerous residencies, including Teton Artlab (Jackson, WY), The Arctic Circle (Svalbard, Norway), PLAYA, Sagehen Creek Experimental Forest and Biological Field Station (Truckee, CA), Ucross, and the Roswell Artist-in-Residence program.
She is the recipient of a research fellowship at the Center for Art + Environment at the Nevada Museum of Art, as well as grants from the Harwood Emerging Artist Fund, the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation, the Puffin Foundation, the RAiR Foundation, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (via the Land Arts Mobile Research Initiative).
Marion Boulton “Kippy” Stroud was a talented artist, entrepreneur, generous philanthropist, and impassioned promoter of artists. She founded and funded The Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philadelphia, an experimental program for artists working in textiles and other media as well as the Acadia Summer Arts Program, or “Kamp Kippy” as it was more affectionately known, hosting hundreds of artists and their guests and families over close to three decades.
As a way to honor Stroud’s legacy and commitment to artists on the island she loved, the Marion Boulton “Kippy” Stroud Foundation and COA established a one month artist-in-residence program in 2019 to perpetuate the spirit of Camp Kippy and provide the opportunity so treasured by Stroud of being in Maine on Mount Desert Island within an artistic, intellectual, and sociable community. The program has since expanded, and now includes the Kippy Stroud Emerging Visiting Maine Artist residency in winter term and the The Kippy Stroud Memorial COA Lecture in the spring.
UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE BAR HARBOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Secret Lives and Intimate Writings of May Sarton
By Carolyn Gage and directed by Jodi Baker
BAR HARBOR—The Bar Harbor Historical Society is proud to present Carolyn Gage’s Secret Lives and Intimate Writings of May Sarton, directed by Jodi Baker. The dramatic reading will take place on the piazza of La Rochelle, located at 127 West Street in Bar Harbor, on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 4:30 pm. The performance is free and open to the public; however, reserved seating is encouraged.
This summer, the Bar Harbor Historical Society is sponsoring a series of dramatic readings with local actors, presenting the secret lives of four Maine writers through an exploration of their writings about their same-sex relationships, including letters, poems, and memoirs. The readings celebrate Maine history and culture and broaden our understanding of some of our most famous authors.
In her sixties, poet and memoirist May Sarton moved to York, Maine, where she lived for her last two decades and wrote eight journals about her life. One of the first mainstream authors to be publicly “out” as a lesbian, Sarton was embraced by a rising women’s movement celebrating the significance of women’s writings. In the final decades of her life, Sarton looked back on her first love and continued to celebrate the expressions of love between old women.
For more information and to reserve your seat, visit www.barharborhistorical.org/events
Fashion to Die For
UPCOMING PINTS FOR A PURPOSE
Fall Kids Events at the Library: Stuffy Sleepover, Friendship Bracelets, Autumn Equinox
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Join us at the Southwest Harbor Public Library for a variety of fun fall events for kids, including a Stuffy Sleepover with storytime, a Friendship Bracelet Workshop for tweens and teens, and an Autumn Equinox Celebration with crafts and seasonal treats. Events take place September 17th, 18th, and 24th, and are open to a range of ages, with some requiring registration.
Stuffy Sleepover: Kids of all ages are invited to a special bedtime-themed storytime and stuffed animal sleepover, Wednesday, September 17th at 3:30-4:00 pm. We'll read a selection of bedtime books, then tuck the stuffies in for a night of fun at the library! Pick-up for stuffies will be the following day, September 18th, during open hours. No registration required. https://tinyurl.com/yjksx383
Friendship Bracelet Workshop: Tweens and teens are invited to come create fun, beaded jewelry at the library on Thursday, September 18th from 3:30 - 4:30 pm. All materials will be provided. This program is recommended for ages 8+, and registration is required. https://tinyurl.com/bp5zhrrw
Autumn Equinox Celebration: Kids and families are invited to attend this celebration of the first day of fall! Come ring in the cool weather on Wednesday, September 24th from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. with hot chocolate, apple cider, and fun, fall-themed crafts. Kids of all ages are welcome, and no registration is required. https://tinyurl.com/bp5zhrrw
Storytimes and Play-doh Playtime are also ongoing, same days and times: Play-doh Playtime 10:00-10:30 a.m. Tuesdays; Baby Storytimes 10:00-10:30 a.m. Wednesdays; and Family Storytimes 10:00-10:30 a.m. Fridays.
For information, visit www.swhplibrary.org, email children@swhplibrary.org or call 244-7065.
Tom Reeve to Talk about the Charitable Food System on MDI
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—On September 16 at 5:30 pm, at the Southwest Harbor Public Library, Tom Reeve, Executive Director of the Bar Harbor Food Pantry, will explore the origins of the charitable food system nationally and on MDI. His presentation will cover the various ways local organizations support community members struggling with food insecurity, the ongoing need for food pantries, and his perspective on what defines a community. This talk will be based on Reeve's 2025 article in the MDI Historical Society's history journal, Chebacco, and will be available in-person or virtually. Go to www.mdihistory.org/events to register.
This program is a collaboration between the MDI Historical Society and the Southwest Harbor Public Library.
TREMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
OKTOBERFEST
Bar Harbor Wealth Management Accepting Applications Until September 19 From Mount Desert Island Nonprofits for Hattie A. & Fred C. Lynam Trust Grants
BAR HARBOR—Harbor Wealth Management is accepting applications for the 2025 Hattie A. & Fred C. Lynam Trust grants now through September 19, 2025. The Lynam Trust, which is managed by Bar Harbor Wealth Management, was established in 1942 and supports charitable, religious, and educational organizations serving the people of Mount Desert Island. Grant awards typically range between $500 and $5,000.
Grant eligibility is limited to organizations that have been established as tax exempt under IRS section 501(c)(3) and have their primary administrative office located on Mount Desert Island. Grants may be awarded for operational needs, facilities, or capital campaigns. Individuals are not eligible to receive a grant from the Lynam Trust.
Interested nonprofit organizations can download the application at www.lynamtrust.com/grants. Applications should be sent via email to dlindsey-mercier@barharbor.bank or by U.S. mail to:
Bar Harbor Wealth Management
Attn: Danielle Lindsey-Mercier
P.O. Box 1100
Ellsworth, ME 04605
Applications must be post marked or received by email on or before September 19, 2025. Applications will be reviewed by the Lynam Grants Committee in November, and grants will be awarded by December 31, 2025.
Bar Harbor Bankshares (NYSE American: BHB) is the parent company of its wholly owned subsidiary, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. Operating more than 60 locations across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is headquartered in Bar Harbor, Maine, and has more than $4 billion in assets. As a leading Northern New England community bank, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust offers a full range of personal and business banking services, as well as wealth management services through its subsidiary Bar Harbor Wealth Management. For more information about Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, visit www.barharbor.bank or call 888-853-7100. Member FDIC.
BAROQUE ORCHESTRA OF MAINE
BAR HARBOR—Baroque Orchestra of Maine's Heidi Powell, baroque violin & Phoebe Durand-McDonnell, baroque harp will perform a concert on Wednesday, September 24 at 7 pm, Bar Harbor Congregational Church, featuring works by Corelli, Vivaldi, Schmelzer, Castello and more on period baroque instruments. Tickets are available at the door, for more information go to: baroqueorchestraofmaine.org or e-mail baroqueorchestraofmaine@gmail.com.
REAL ESTATE
BAR HARBOR
• Leslie D. Harbour and Valerie C. Davis, Rockland to Melissa Ferrari, White Post, Va., land with buildings and improvements.
• Kathleen F. Gott, Bar Harbor to Kathleen F. Gott Irrevocable Trust, land with improvements.
CRANBERRY ISLES
• Great Cranberry Island Trust, Santa Monica, Calif., to Big Yellow House LLC, South Darien, Conn., land with improvements.
LAMOINE
• Kenneth and Sally Smith Living Trust, Lamoine to Saben Rossi and Elise Rossi, Brewer, as joint tenants, land.
• Marc E. Lemelin and Glynis Lemelin, Uxbridge, Mass., to Lemelin Family Trust, Uxbridge, Mass., land.
MOUNT DESERT
• Cove End Appointment Trust, Bedford, N.Y., to South Shore Road Limited Partnership, Reisterstown, Md., land with buildings and improvements.
• Thomas D. Lawrence and Marguerite Lawrence, Seal Harbor to Thomas D. Lawrence and Marguerite Lawrence, Seal Harbor, land with improvements.
• Estate of Loretia M. Tripp, Trenton to Isle & Pine Properties LLC, Mount Desert, land with buildings and improvements.
• Ronald J. Chase Jr., Bangor and Juliann C. Donahue, Belgrade Lakes to Ronald J. Chase Jr., Bangor and Juliann C. Donahue, Belgrade Lakes, 50% ownership each, land with buildings and improvements.
• Julia A. Cheston, Mount Desert to Julia A. Cheston Trust, Mount Desert, land with buildings and improvements.
• Julia A. Cheston, Mount Desert to Julia A. Cheston Trust, Mount Desert, land with buildings and improvements.
• Sargent Point Nominee Trust to Cecily D. Cook, Brooklyn, N.Y., land with improvements.
• Fairman-Cook Nominee Trust to Cecily D. Cook, Brooklyn, N.Y., land with improvements.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR
• Troy A. Degolyer, Lexington, Ky., and Tracy A. Cole, Chuluota, Fla., to DED to Rights LLC, Southwest Harbor, land with buildings and improvements.
• Estate of Donald E. Degolyer, Lexington, Ky., to Troy A. Degolyer, Lexington, Ky., and Tracy A. Cole, Chuluota, Fla., land with buildings and improvements.
• E.M.R. Inc., Southwest Harbor to Mark C. Worcester, Southwest Harbor, Ben C. Worcester III, Southwest Harbor and Damaris Smith, Southwest Harbor, land with improvements.
• E.M.R. Inc., Southwest Harbor to Worcester Associates, Southwest Harbor, land with improvements.
• Cheryl A. Burr-Clark, Courtney Clark, Chelsea L. Lowe, f/k/a Chelsea Clark-Vickerson, and Crystal Clark, Chelsea to Harbor Ridge Condominium Association, Southwest Harbor, interest in time-share estate at Harbor Ridge Condominium, Southwest Harbor, Unit 34, Week 44.
Shot In The Hand Family Trust, Paradise Valley, Ariz., to Ann W. Brieck and Matthew J. Sweet, East Hartland, Conn., as joint tenants, land with buildings and improvements.
• Ryan L. Shane and Yvonne R. Shane, Royersford, Pa., to John M. Whiteside and Adrienne B. Whiteside, Mount Crawford, Va., as joint tenants, interest in time-share estate at Harbor Ridge Condominium, Southwest Harbor, Unit 56, Week 21.
• Nancy L. Grace, Havelock, N.C., to Harbor Ridge Condominium Association, Southwest Harbor, 50% interest, time-share estate at Harbor Ridge Condominium, Southwest Harbor, Unit: 51, Week 50.
• Joan Terry, Southwest Harbor to Harbor Ridge Condominium Association, Southwest Harbor, time-share estate at Harbor Ridge Condominium, Southwest Harbor, Unit 17, Week 48.
• Fred E. Heath II, f/k/a Fred E. Heath, Orono to Alison J. Ireland, Presque Isle and Lora Flavin, Brewer and Lee Rife, Brewer, as joint tenants, time-share estate at Harbor Ridge Condominium, Southwest Harbor, Unit 33, Week 28.
• Kenneth L. Lindsay Jr. and Marie E. Lindsay, Bangor to Harbor Ridge Condominium Association, Southwest Harbor, time-share estate at Harbor Ridge Condominium, Southwest Harbor, Unit 16, Week 47.
• Beverly R. Dardeno, Groveland, Mass., to Beverly R. Dardeno, Groveland, Mass., and Diane M. Dardeno, Groveland, Mass., time-share estate at Harbor Ridge Condominium, Southwest Harbor, Unit 46, Week 31.
• Susan Michalski 1990 Trust, a/k/a Susan D. Michalski 1990 Trust, Grass Valley, Calif., to Samuel E. Adkins-Michalski, a/k/a Samuel Evan Adkins-Michalski, Saco, land with improvements.
• Terry L. Dow and Amy S. Rich, Bass Harbor to Glendon C. Stanley, Eleanor R. Stanley, Glendon C. Stanley Jr., Bernard Bria Mitchell, Trenton, Morgan Stanley, Southwest Harbor and Ajha Stanley, Bernard, as joint tenants, 50% interest at Harbor Ridge Condominium, Southwest Harbor, Unit 41, Week 45.
• Harbor Ridge Condominium Association, Southwest Harbor to Dale A. Bourassa, Bath, Gillian B. Roy, Bath, Lindsay C. Bourassa, Topsham, Caitlin C. Bourassa, Bath and Jamie B. McKenzie, Waterbury, Vt., as joint tenants, interest in timeshare estate at Harbor Ridge Condominium, Southwest Harbor, Unit 31, Week 16.
• Dale A. Bourassa, Bath, Gillian B. Roy, Bath, Lindsey C. Bourassa, Topsham, Caitlin C. Bourassa, Bath and Jamie B. McKenzie, Waterbury, Vt. to Harbor Ridge Condominium Association, Southwest Harbor, interest in time-share estate at Harbor Ridge Condominium, Southwest Harbor, Unit 35, Week 52.
SWAN’S ISLAND
• Janet Gilley, Southwest Harbor to William Maggio, Spring Valley, N.Y., land.
TREMONT
• Cape Farm Realty Trust, Boston, Mass., to Susan Weld Peck, Philadelphia, Pa., land with improvements.
• George Putnam III, Manchester, Mass., to Susan Weld Peck, Philadelphia, Pa., land with improvements.
• Cape Farm Realty Trust, Boston, Mass., to George Putnam III and Kathy Z. Putnam, Manchester, Mass., as joint tenants, land.
• Cape Farm Realty Trust, Boston, Mass., to Barbara Putnam Lyman, West Palm Beach, Fla., land with improvements.
• W. Morgan Churchman, Malvern, Pa., to Leidy McIlvaine Churchman, West Tremont, land with improvements.
TRENTON
• Laurie Ann Romer, Trenton to George Onorato and Briana Onorato, Trenton, as joint tenants, land with buildings and improvements.
• Nancy L. Salisbury Trust, Trenton to Eric P. Peltier Jr. and Sabrina K. Peltier, Franklin, as joint tenants, land with buildings and improvements.
Joan C. Bowen, Bedford, Mass., to Oak Pointe Properties LLC, Ellsworth, land with buildings and improvements. • Estate of Gail W. Starr, Phoenixville, Pa., to Megan Starr Blair, Phoenixville, Pa., land with buildings and improvements.
• Hall Property Management Inc., Trenton to Patrick Boeshans, Winter Harbor, land with buildings and improvements.
• Charles H. Starr to Daniel C. Starr, Bel Air, Md., and Andrew C. Starr, West Palm Beach, Fla., land with buildings and improvements.
STATE RELEASES
Help Shape the Future of Outdoor Recreation in Maine
Maine is updating its Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP)—and we want to hear from you!
Why Your Voice Matters
Outdoor recreation is an essential part of life in Maine. From hiking trails and water access sites to ballfields and snowmobile routes, these spaces are used by residents and visitors alike. To ensure Maine’s outdoor recreation resources continue to meet community needs and reflect statewide priorities, we need insight from the people who use and manage these places every day.
Your feedback will help:
Identify gaps in access, equity, and infrastructure
Inform funding decisions and priority projects
Guide long-term strategies to improve recreation for all Mainers
Whether you’re an outdoor recreation provider who offers outdoor recreation experiences or a resident who enjoys Maine’s incredible natural spaces, your input is critical to shaping the next five years of outdoor recreation planning and investment in our state.
Your responses will directly inform the 2025 Maine SCORP, a plan that helps guide outdoor recreation funding, policy, and development across the state. Completing a survey takes just 15 minutes, and your perspective can make a direct impact on setting priorities for the next 10 years.
Take the Survey That Fits You
There are two separate surveys, and we invite you to complete the one or both that best matches your experience:
For Outdoor Recreation Users
If you’re someone who ATV’s, hikes, bikes, hunts, fishes, paddles, plays sports, camps, or otherwise enjoys outdoor recreation in Maine, this survey is for you.
For Outdoor Recreation Providers
If you work in municipal, state, tribal, or nonprofit outdoor recreation—or help manage public lands, trails, facilities, or programming—please share your perspective on the challenges and opportunities you see.
FEDERAL RELEASES
King Bill Signed into Law, Veteran Customer Service Office Becomes Permanent
The bipartisan law codifies the Veterans Experience Office, making it a permanent office in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), today applauded the signing into law of his bipartisan Improving Veteran Experience Act by President Donald Trump. Under the new law, the Veterans Experience Office (VEO) will become a permanent part of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA), ensuring it can continue to provide consistent and quality care for the veteran community. Established in 2015 the VEO collects veterans’ feedback through surveys and uses that data to continuously improve the VA’s website and other resources used by veterans interacting with the VA. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) was an original cosponsor of the legislation.
“Veterans across Maine and our nation consistently and courageously answer the call of duty when serving, and we owe it to them to deliver the very best care,” said Senator King. “Supporting our veterans should never be partisan, and customer service should not be reserved just for the private sector. The signing into law of the Improving Veteran Experience Act is a perfect example of government providing a necessary public service. I want to extend my sincerest appreciation to Senator John Cornyn for his work helping get this important legislation over the finish line. Today, we celebrate codifying a long-awaited and much-needed office that is laser focused on improving veterans’ ability to access their hard-earned benefits.”
Representing one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. Recently, in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, Senator King joined his colleagues in urging for immediate action to secure veterans’ personal information provided by VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), a measure that would protect millions of veterans’ medical records stored in VA’s computer systems. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families.
Recently, Senator King introduced bipartisan legislation alongside SVAC Chairman Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare. In February, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his “outstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.”
Senators Collins, Kaine Introduce Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act
Click HERE to watch and HERE to download Senator Collins’ full remarks introducing the bill on the Senate floor.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced the Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act to reauthorize funding for the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) and the Geriatrics Academic Career Awards (GACA). Both programs were last authorized in 2020 as part of the CARES Act and are set to expire at the end of this month. Senator Collins delivered remarks on the Senate floor today in support of the bipartisan bill.
The GWEP is the only federally funded program that exists to educate and train health professionals in geriatrics. There are currently 42 GWEP recipients, including in Maine at the University of New England. GACA support early-career training of junior faculty to develop emerging leaders in geriatric education and clinical care. There are currently 25 GACA recipients funded under four-year awards through June of 2027.
The Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act would reauthorize the GWEP and GACA programs at a combined $48.2 million per year over the next five years.
“This bipartisan bill would continue to train the current workforce and family caregivers, while developing emerging leaders in geriatric education across a variety of disciplines. By doing both, we will help ensure that aging Americans are cared for by a workforce specifically trained to meet their unique and complex health needs for decades to come. This will mean better care for older Americans, while saving valuable resources and reducing unnecessary costs,” said Senator Collins during her floor remarks.
“Older Americans deserve to age with dignity and respect, and a crucial part of that is making sure that their health care providers are trained to understand the unique needs of aging Americans,” said Senator Kaine. “Our bipartisan legislation will reauthorize programs to train the next generation of providers caring for older adults and help improve access to high-quality care.”
“Maine has the highest percentage of individuals over the age of 65 in the nation, reflecting broader national and global shifts where populations are living longer and birth rates are declining. We are proud of our initiatives to improve health outcomes for older adults in Maine, and grateful to Senator Collins for her steadfast leadership and commitment to meeting the needs of the country’s aging population now and in the future. Thanks to our five-year grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration, in close partnership with the UMaine Center on Aging, we’re working hard to strengthen the geriatrics workforce throughout the state, especially in rural, underserved, and tribal communities in our state, by creating a more age-friendly health system and an age-capable workforce, transforming primary care practices, and building geriatrics skills and knowledge for patients, families, caregivers, and direct care workers,” said Mary DeSilva, ScD, MS, MSFS Director of AgingME, Maine’s Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program.
"Geriatrics practitioners – physicians, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, and others specializing in the care of older adults and improving their health, independence, and quality of life – are experts in chronic conditions and medical complexity, including clinical management of people living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. HHS estimates only 6,580 geriatric physicians are currently practicing in the U.S., well short of meeting the current and future care needs of all of us as we age. The Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) and Geriatrics Academic Career Awards (GACA) Program are the only federal programs designed meet the care gap created by the shortage of geriatrics health professionals. Together, these two programs create the geriatrics clinician educator workforce that is needed (GACA Program) and then deploys geriatrics experts to communities to train health care practitioners and caregivers and forge the interprofessional teams necessary to prevent and efficiently manage complex and chronic conditions of older adults (GWEP). The American Geriatrics Society commends Senators Collins and Kaine’s leadership in advancing quality care for older Americans. As our nation continues to face a severe shortage of both geriatrics healthcare providers and faculty with the expertise to train providers and caregivers, we must expand – not reduce – the number of educational and training opportunities in geriatrics and gerontology,” said Nancy Lundebjerg, CEO of the American Geriatrics Society.
Sam Cotton, President of the National Association for Geriatric Education, commented on the introduction of the reauthorization bill by Senators Collins and Kaine: “Through our GWEP, we’ve expanded access to high-quality dementia care across Kentucky-training thousands of healthcare professionals, supporting family caregivers, and transforming care experiences for older adults. This work reflects the national impact of GWEPs across the country that are working to strengthen the geriatric workforce and improve care for America’s aging population. In Kentucky alone, every $1 invested in GWEP yields up to $102 in healthcare savings - reducing hospital readmissions, avoiding premature nursing home placement, and supporting older adults to live with dignity in their communities. Reauthorizing GWEP is essential to sustaining these proven outcomes and meeting the needs of our rapidly aging nation, and we congratulate Senators Collins and Kaine for their dedication to this work.”
Bert Waters, Director of the Virgina GWEP, thanked Senators Kaine and Collins for this bipartisan effort and spoke about the VA program: “Last year, the Virginia GWEP trained over 6,000 students, professionals, and caregivers statewide to close gaps in aging care. Through strong statewide partnerships, we are building an educated, interprofessional workforce and equipping providers—especially in rural areas—to deliver better care for our rapidly aging population.”
Senator Collins Announces More Than $14 Million for Airport Improvements Across Maine
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that multiple Maine airports will receive a total of $14,262,173 to support important infrastructure improvements. The funding comes from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Fiscal Year 2025 Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG) program and the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act (IIJA). Senator Collins was one of 10 senators who negotiated the IIJA, which provided $15 billion for airport improvements nationwide.
“Maine’s airports are vital pieces of our state’s transportation network that promote job creation and economic development. Throughout our state, airports play a critical role not only in carrying residents and visitors, but also in facilitating medical services for those in rural communities during emergencies when seconds count,” said Senator Collins. “These significant investments will allow airports across Maine to make much-needed improvements to their infrastructure.”
Specifically, the funding from the AIG program has been allocated as follows:
Portland International Jetport (PWM) - $11,311,290 to expand existing terminal space by 7,200 square feet, obtain snow removal equipment for two replacement carrier vehicles, and replace several passenger loading bridges.
Wiscasset Municipal Airport (IWI) - $585,000 to reconstruct 19,505 square yards of pavement.
Specifically, the funding from the AIP has been allocated as follows:
Various Airports in Maine - $1,225,000 to install new, automated weather observing systems.
Hancock County/Bar Harbor Airport (BHB) - $1,140,883 to rehabilitate 165 feet of existing service roads and replace windows in the terminal.
Since joining the Appropriations Committee in 2009, Senator Collins has helped to secure more than $1 billion in competitive transportation grants for the State of Maine.
King: Science, not “Ideology” Should Drive National Energy Policy
Senator also gets agreement from nominees that battery storage can help energy be more reliable
The full clip of the exchange can be downloaded here
WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR), today questioned Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) nominees on their commitment to cost effective, renewable energy technologies. In the hearing with FERC nominees Laura Swett and David LaCerte, King pressed for support to wind and solar energies as they are significantly cheaper energy options than fossil fuels, and swifter to develop. King also asked the nominees about the importance of batteries in the longevity and success of stabilizing the electric grid.
Senator King began his questioning by asking the nominees about the cheapest forms of electricity generation.
Senator King began, “Ms. Swett, what is the cheapest form of electricity generation today in the country?
“Thank you for the question, Senator. I have not looked into that issue, but I am happy to look into it and answer any questions you may have,” Swett replied.
Senator King followed up on his question, “Well, I’ll help you. It is wind and solar by a mile, by a factor of two. The fellow who left here under difficult circumstances was correct. The cheapest form of energy today is wind and solar by a long shot. Let's take a case study in Iowa. Any idea how much wind power supplies to the electricity supply of Iowa?”
“I don't know the specific number,” Swett answered.
“Sixty percent,” Senator King responded. “Iowa is the fifteenth lowest electricity cost in the country and in the past year we have already learned average electricity prices across the country have gone up between six percent and ten percent. In Iowa, it has actually gone down a half a percent. The point is: you both have talked about being agnostic. I hope you will hold to that because we cannot ignore the reality around us that this administration is extremely hostile – and that is a mild term – to renewable energy. And the second point – I talked about price – is speed. There is no question that wind and solar are the quickest to deploy. Senator Heinrich mentioned if you wanted a new gas plant today, it would be seven years between permitting and the fact there is a five-year wait time for turbine. A major solar project should go online in a year or a year and a half. So, I just hope that you all will be true to your word today and not follow what amounts to an ideology that says we cannot have wind and solar.”
Senator King then asked the nominees about the important role batteries play in transmission and stabilizing the electric grid.
Senator King then asked, “Renewables plus batteries is a baseload, batteries can also have an important role to play in transmission. Ms. Swett, can you discuss that? Stabilizing the grid?”
“Thank you for the question, Senator,” Swett responded. “I have not looked into the battery engineering components as they relate to the grid, but I would absolutely be open to any type of technology that would stabilize or enhance our existing grid if I had the honor of being confirmed.”
Senator King questioned, “Mr. LaCerte, thoughts on batteries?”
LaCerte replied, “Thank you, Senator. I agree with the premise that batteries could be an important component of increasing the reliability of baseload. I think as our technologies evolve, that those batteries will become more and more efficient and effective. I think it’s definitely worth continued monitoring, and usage is something that should be looked at by FERC.”
As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator King has advocated for climate solutions that support Maine communities and has been one of the Senate’s most vocal advocates for improving energy technologies and development as a way to unlock America’s clean energy future. He has repeatedly emphasized the importance of permitting reform to unlocking the promise of clean energy development opportunities created in the historic Inflation Reduction Act . In addition to a recent discussion with FERC, he has stressed the importance of streamlining and speeding project timelines while maintaining environmental standards to the Secretaries of Energy and Interior.
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