On, January 5, 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that COVID-19 booster shots are now available for Mainers age 12 and older who have already received a COVID-19 vaccine. See the announcement by the Food and Drug Administration for more detail.  A booster dose or shot is another dose of a COVID-19 vaccine that is given after the initial two shot vaccine series for Pfizer or Moderna, or after the initial single vaccine for Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).  The booster should be given at least five months after getting the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine; at least five months after the second dose of the Moderna vaccine; or at least two months after getting the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine.   Individuals who are 12 through 17 years old […]

Despite New Limitations Against In-Person Audiences, Spectators, Guests, and Visitors at the College, Bates Administrators “Strongly Encourage” Hourly Staff to Gather for In-Person Anti-Union Meetings With Expensive Boston Labor Consultant Katie Lev January 4, 2022 By Ramona du Houx LEWISTON, ME — On January 3, 2022, Bates College administrators sent an email to Bates hourly staff, strongly urging them to attend in-person anti-union meetings this week with out-of-state labor consultant Katie Lev of Lev Labor LLC, despite updated College restrictions on in-person gatherings and outside visitors, established by the College to protect public health during students’ return to campus amid the highly contagious omicron variant surge.  Ahead of employees’ mail-in union election, set to begin this Thursday, January 6th, the College scheduled […]

January 9, 2022 By Ramona du Houx As increasing home values burden Maine people on fixed incomes, an initiative of the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan will help pay property tax bills for Maine seniors and those who are permanently disabled Augusta, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills announced today that her Administration is launching the State Property Tax Deferral Program, a lifeline loan program through the Governor’s Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan that can cover the annual property tax bills of eligible Maine people who are ages 65 and older or are permanently disabled and who cannot afford to pay them on their own. The loan program will allow Maine’s most vulnerable community members to age in place and ensure that property taxes are still delivered to municipalities. The program requires repayment of […]

January 5, 2021 By Ramona du Houx AUGUSTA – The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit upheld Maine’s first-in-nation law on January 4, 2022 to require pro rata cable bills. First sponsored in 2020 by Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, the Pro Rata Law requires a cable system operator to grant a subscriber a pro rata credit or rebate if that subscriber requests service disconnection three or more working days before the end of a monthly billing period. “Too often, Maine families have only one choice for cable television. Cable companies should not be permitted to use their monopoly status to take advantage of consumers. I urge other states to follow Maine’s lead, and protect their residents from these unfair practices. […]

January 7,2021 Maine Department of Health and Human Services will distribute the tests to Walgreens pharmacies, schools, health care sites, and congregate care settings in January and February Augusta, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills announced today that the Maine Department of Health and Human Services has purchased an additional 250,000 COVID-19 rapid antigen tests from Maine-based manufacturer Abbott Labs and will distribute them to Walgreens pharmacies, health care sites, schools, and congregate care settings across Maine in January and February. This purchase of rapid antigen tests is one of the largest ever by the State and represents nearly a quarter of all the rapid tests the State has made available since the beginning of the pandemic. “Widely available, accessible, and affordable COVID-19 testing […]

By Ramona du Houx January 6, 2022 One year ago, violent extremists attempted a coup against American Democracy, trying to falsify the results of the 2020 presidential election that President Joe Biden won with the most votes in U.S. history. “At this moment we must decide what kind of nation we are going to be,” said President Biden. “Are we going to be a nation that accepts political violence as a norm? Are we going to be a nation where we allow partisan election officials to overturn the legally expressed will of the people? Are we going to be a nation that lives not by the light of the truth but in the shadow of lies? We cannot allow ourselves […]

 The Camden Public Library’s Jumpstart January program series continues during the second week of January with two free workshops designed to help you overcome barriers and nurture your creativity. On Tuesday, January 11, at 6:30 pm, the library will host an online class with Performance Mindset Coach and author Gilda Joffe. Joffe has been teaching and coaching for more than 25 years and has helped hundreds of women in the areas of confidence, performance anxiety, negative internal dialogues, imposter syndrome, and the development of executive presence. Her program with the library will discuss inspiring concepts from her new book, Dancing with Your Muse On Wednesday, January 12, at 6:00 pm, join local artist Robinsunne and fellow crafters for an online class where participants will […]

Attached to this notice is the meeting agenda. Login/call in information is below. If you haven’t joined a Teams Meeting before, here is some information on how to join.  If joining the Teams Meeting from your smartphone, download the free Microsoft Teams app in advance of the meeting.  You will be able to log into the app as a “guest,” and it will prompt you to enter your name.  Allow Microsoft Teams to use your audio and microphone when prompted so that you will be able to participate in the meeting.  If joining this meeting from your computer, you do not need to download the app – just click on the “Join Microsoft Teams Meeting” link below.  When a webpage […]

December 22, 2021 CAMDEN, ME – For the 14th consecutive year, the Camden Public Library (CPL) has earned the distinction of being a “Star Library” as determined by the Library Journal’s Index of Public Library Service (Index). The library was judged on criteria such as circulation, library visits, program attendance, and public internet use on a per capita basis, and compared to peers libraries. CPL has also received the Index’s esteemed five-star rating, their highest possible star rating, for the 12th year in a row. The 2021 Index was derived from data released by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for FY19. A total of 5,846 U.S. public libraries were scored in groupings based on total operating expenditures. Ratings of five, four, and three stars are awarded to […]

Hospitals to host ambulances and emergency medical crews that will match patients with open beds at facilities throughout Maine Augusta, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved Maine’s request for Federal Ambulance Teams on behalf of eight Maine hospitals. The Federal teams will assist Maine emergency medical services (EMS) crews with non-emergency transportation of patients among facilities to match patients with open beds and ensure they are treated in the facility that best meets their health care needs. The ambulance teams are among a slate of initiatives President Biden announced today to help states confront the COVID-19 Omicron variant. The Mills Administration is awaiting further details from the Federal government about the ambulance teams, including when they are […]