Augusta, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills announced today that all Maine residents age 16 and older will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine beginning next Wednesday, April 7, 2021. The acceleration of Maine’s vaccination timeline by a week and a half comes as Maine is expected to receive a significant increase in vaccine supply from the Federal government. Vaccination for residents age 16 and older had previously been scheduled to begin on April 19, 2021.  “Maine continues to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible. With the Federal government significantly increasing our supply of vaccines, it is appropriate to accelerate our timeframe and make all Maine people eligible beginning next Wednesday,” said Governor Janet Mills. “While this is a great step forward, Maine people should keep in mind that even though they are eligible it will still take time to get an appointment and get a vaccine. We will continue to work with vaccine providers across Maine to get shots into arms as quickly as we can.”     “The […]

ORONO — University of Maine Cooperative Extension and University of New Hampshire Extension will offer a webinar for home gardeners about fiddleheads from 6–7:15  p.m. April 14. “Fiddleheads: A Spring Tradition” topics include how to properly identify, sustainably harvest and safely cook ostrich fern fiddleheads. UMaine Extension agriculture professional Dave Fuller will lead the presentation.  Registration is required; a sliding scale fee is optional. Register on the event webpage to attend live or receive a link to the recording. This is the first in a six-part spring gardening webinar series offered every other Wednesday through June for Maine and New Hampshire gardeners. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Pamela Hargest, 207.781.6099; extension.gardening@maine.edu.

By Eben Rose Massachusetts’ demand for 1,200 megawatts of electrical generation to fill the “energy gap” left by the closure of  two New England nuclear plants can be met with delocalized but interconnected microgrids, each with a capacity for sustainable electrical generation and salt water battery storage that can feed the grid and buffer fluctuations of demand. This model of growth is both sustainable and democratizing because it keeps decision making localized and not top-down, imposed from some high and distant corporate boardroom. This model also, importantly, keeps the impacts of energy development more local, and therefore transparent to the consumers who are the enfranchised decision makers. This is a stark contrast to New England Clean Energy Connect (aka “the CMP corridor”), […]

March 25, 2021 By Ramona du Houx The Maine Attorney General (AG) and the Office of Chief Medical Examiner have released drug overdose data for February 2021, which draws attention to the continued devastation the opioid epidemic is causing in Maine. “February’s numbers are an important reminder of the opioid crisis’s continued grip on our state and the country. I am hopeful that current efforts, including the work of the Opioid Data Sharing Committee highlighted in t his report, will continue to shine a light on the need for state and local governments to work proactively with community members and organizations to ensure that people are connected with the resources they need to treat substance use disorder,” said Maine Attorney General […]

Administration Makes Essential Workers Eligible for Vaccinations at Community Health Centers in Federal CHC Vaccination Program Administration Also Announces New Program to Vaccinate Dialysis Patients Nationwide March 25, 2021 As part of President Biden’s continued efforts to ensure COVID-19 vaccines reach all people and all communities, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing a series of actions to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines to the hardest-hit and highest-risk communities across the country. With funding in large part from the American Rescue Plan, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will invest nearly $10 billion to expand access to vaccines and better serve communities of color, rural areas, low-income populations, and other underserved communities in the COVID-19 response. This funding will expand […]

03/24/2021  AUGUSTA— The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released the following statement today in response to Tuesday’s announcement by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that the special enrollment period forHealthCare.gov plans will be extended until August 15, 2021. The Biden Administration previously announced that people without access to affordable coverage could sign up for coverage between February 15 and May 15, 2021 in response to the loss of jobs and health insurance due to COVID-19. Yesterday, this special enrollment period was extended to give consumers more time to take advantage of new savings through the American Rescue Plan. Consumers now have another three months to enroll or review their coverage, with increased tax credits available to lower their monthly premiums starting April 1. […]

Maine: let’s talk about energy, Part 2: Energy in your business The Camden Public Library and Camden Energy Committee announce the second event in an online series aimed at helping Mainers explore their energy options, lower their energy costs, and combat climate change. The program on Thursday, April 1, at 6:00 pm, features a panel presentation with representatives from several mid-coast businesses who will discuss what is happening within their own companies and what the future holds for energy use in Maine’s commercial establishments. The audience will hear from Joshua Moore of Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding, Inc.; Sondra Hamilton of Zoot Coffee and new owner of 3 Elm Street (the old J.C. Curtis Hardware building); David Dickey, owner of Camden Riverhouse Hotel and […]

March 23, 2021 The Camden Public Library carries on its Maritime Month tradition this April, 2021, by hosting a series of dynamic online programs and featuring a month-long “virtual gallery” of vintage photographs from the library’s Walsh History Center Collection. The gallery show, “A Visual History of Camden Harbor,” will be complemented by a slide talk given by Ken Gross, director of the History Center at the library, on Tuesday, April 6, at 6:00 pm. The gallery will be available to view beginning on April 1 at librarycamden.org/event/a-virtual-history-of-camden-harbor. To request a Zoom link to attend the April 6 presentation, please email jpierce@librarycamden.org. Photos courtesy of the Camden Public Library.The steamers Southport, Westport, and Minehola (Mineola) picking up passengers in Camden in 1913. Camden Harbor c. 1912. The shipyard on the far side has started […]

March 21, 2021 By Ramona du Houx Next May, the Solon Center for Research and Publishing will announce its first literary/art journal: INSIGHTS. Stories from authors published and unpublished will debut in the journal. Working with the Solon Center, Maine Insights will also publish some of the stories. Original art will accompany the stories. The Solon Center for Research and Publishing is a non-profit 501(c)3. Most literary journals don’t have much art. The Solon Center for Research and Publishing believes combining the two is the best way to make each medium come to life, which enhances the viewers/readers experience. The Solon Center will host contests, working with Gallery Fukurou, of Rockland, Maine and the Maine publisher Polar Bear & Company. Both entities are projects of the […]

March 18, 2021 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that ASP2 Rural LLC has been awarded a loan of $7,739,000 to develop three solar energy facilities across the state.  This financing was awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program.  “Investing in renewable energy is key to effectively reducing pollution and protecting our environment,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement.  “We welcome this significant investment from USDA to assist with the development of solar energy facilities in Caribou, Skowhegan, and Fairfield, which will provide clean, affordable energy in the communities.” The loan will be used to support a 964.6 kilowatt project by Caribou Solar in Caribou, a […]

MARCH 18, 2021 • STATEMENTS AND RELEASES Today, National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy convened the second National Climate Task Force to discuss the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to tackling the climate crisis, creating good-paying, union jobs, and prioritizing environmental justice. During the virtual meeting, Cabinet leaders and senior Administration officials discussed their respective plans to integrate addressing climate change throughout their agencies to put the United States in a position of strength to lead the world in a clean energy revolution that creates American jobs with the chance to join a union and builds back an inclusive, equitable economy. Participants, including the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, also looked ahead to the Earth Day Leaders Summit on April 22 and […]

MARCH 18, 2021 Critical Materials are Vital to Producing Electric Vehicle Batteries, Wind Turbines, and Other Clean Energy Technologies WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $30 million to support scientific research that will ensure American businesses can reliably tap into a domestic supply of critical elements and minerals, such as lithium, cobalt and nickel, needed to produce clean energy technologies. Currently, the U.S. is grappling with chronic shortages in the domestic supply of these critical materials, forcing the country to rely on imported materials. “America is in a race against economic competitors like China to own the EV market—and the supply chains for critical materials like lithium and cobalt will determine whether we win or lose,” […]

Augusta, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills announced on March 19,2021 that Maine is accelerating the timeline of its vaccination plan to make more people eligible for COVID-19 vaccines earlier.   Beginning Tuesday, March 23, 2021, Maine residents age 50 and older will be eligible for the vaccination. Beginning Monday, April 19, 2021, all Maine residents age 16 and older will eligible for vaccination. The accelerated timeline comes as some Maine vaccine providers are reporting availability of appointments and as Maine anticipates an increase in vaccine supply from the Federal government.    “Maine has been working around the clock to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible. As we continue to make progress, and with more appointments becoming available and an increase in supply expected in the coming weeks, we believe it is appropriate to accelerate our timeline and make more people eligible earlier,” said Governor Janet Mills. […]

By Ramona du Houx AUGUSTA – During a public hearing on March 17, 2021 survivors of childhood sexual abuse spoke in favor of a bill sponsored by Rep. Lori Gramlich that would help victims access justice. “As a kid, I knew I couldn’t change what happened to me, but I also knew that, when I was a grown-up, I would do my best to make things better for others. As a social worker, I have worked my entire professional life to bring systemic change and to give voice to fellow survivors,” said Rep. Gramlich. Rep. Gramlich’s bill would ensure judges and justices receive training in regards to both criminal and civil actions based on child sexual abuse. She also seeks to extend […]

Augusta, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills announced today that the State of Maine will move the deadline for Maine individual income tax payments from April 15, 2021 to May 17, 2021. The change aligns with the Federal government’s extension of the Federal tax filing and payment deadline that was announced yesterday.  “Aligning Maine’s tax filing and payment deadlines with the Federal government will maintain consistency for Maine people and provide them with valuable added time to handle their taxes,” said Governor Janet Mills. “If Maine people have questions about or need assistance with their returns, I encourage them to contact Maine Revenue Services.” Maine individual taxpayers, including individuals who pay self-employment tax, do not need to file any forms or call to qualify for this deadline extension to May […]