Nov. 5, 2013 Elections: Municipal and state referendums, ordinance changes, candidates
Voters go to the polls Nov. 5 to consider five statewide ballot questions, and various individual municipal warrant articles. Following are election previews and recent issue stories for Knox and Waldo counties, as well as a rundown of the bond issues voters across the state are being asked to decide.
View a list of polling places and town contacts here: Knox County, Waldo County
As polls close election night, results will be posted on PenBayPilot.com as they are reported for Knox and Waldo counties. Stay tuned.
In Photos: Festival of Lights Parade
Rockland - Main Street was awash in the soft glow of Christmas light and the air carried the tune of many a Christmas song as the Festival of Lights Parade made its way passed decorated shops, open businesses and throngs of people on Saturday, November 28.
The following is a photo gallery of scenes from the parade. Maybe you can see your favorite float all over again.
Giving senior care in the area
On Monday morning, November 23, the special guest on the Chris Wolf Show will be Sandra Lauterbach of Clearbrook SeniorCare, Inc. on Pearl Street in Camden.
The show will be broadcast on WRFR Community Radio, Channel 7 Time Warner Maine Coast TV, and streamed live onwww.mainecoast.tv/streaming, 8:00-9:00 a.m. EST. NOTE: THIS SHOW IS AT OUR NEW TIME OF 8:00!
Sandra left her career as a biotech executive in Boston to relocate back to Maine to take care of her mother and start a… Read more
Waldo County Grand Jury indictments: Unlawful drug possession, theft, operating under the influence
BELFAST — The Waldo County Grand Jury handed down 14 indictments Nov. 12. Of the 14 indictments, a majority of the cases involve unlawful drug possession and theft by unauthorized taking or transfer. An indictment does not imply guilt.
Michael R. Baker, 26, of Belfast, aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs (three counts).
William W. Burrows, 22, of Searsport, burglary, and theft by unauthorized taking (two counts).
Audrey A. Cook, 35, of Brooks, unlawful possession of… Read more
Rockland elects new mayor
ROCKLAND — Voting unanimously, Rockland's City Council elected Louise MacLellan-Ruf as Rockland's new mayor Monday evening, Nov. 16. MacLellan-Ruf is now the fourth woman to be elected to that post in Rockland's recent history.
Before the election, newly elected councilor Wiliam Jillson was sworn in to his seat and term. Jillson defeated Rockland's previous mayor Frank Isganitis in the November 3 election.
MacLellan-Ruf said she was looking forward to a great interactive year… Read more
Gov. LePage takes questions during Rockland meeting
ROCKLAND — Maine Governor Paul R. LePage held a town hall meeting Wednesday evening at Rockland City Hall. Despite a late start, the Governor spoke and answered questions from the audience.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance and taking a seat, LePage touched on four points. Reform welfare, lower the income tax, reduce energy costs and help students succeed. … Read more
Waldo County divorces
BELFAST — The following divorces were recently recorded at Waldo County Superior Court.
Colleen Walker, of Skowhegan, and David A. Walker, of Montville, were married Oct. 11, 2008, in Belfast, and divorced March 18.
Lisa M. Oxton, of Freedom, and Wayne M. Oxton, of Belfast, were married April 14, 2007, in Thomaston and divorced Nov. 2.
Abraham Hall, of Winterport, and Jessica Hall, of Winterport, were married June 22, 2013, in Eddington and divorced Oct. 26.
Sheldon… Read more
Governor LePage speaks at Rockland Town Meeting
ROCKLAND Maine Governor Paul R. LePage held a town hall meeting Wednesday evening, Nov. 4, at Rockland City Hall. Despite a late start, the Governor spoke and then answered questions from the audience.
Mayor Frank Isganitis introduced the governor, and took the opportunity to reflect on Tuesdays election results that unseated him from the city council.
“I did my best to be a good public servant, but I’m not a good politician and the results of the election reflected that and I’… Read more
Yum, Yum, Yum, on the Chris Wolf Show
They say that you are what you eat. On The Chris Wolf Show Friday, Nov. 6,, you'll find out if maybe that's true or not. His guest will be dietitian nutritionist Brianna Monahan, of Camden.
Brianna knows what she's talking about. She received both her bachelor’s degree, as well as a master’s, from the University of Maine and completed the majority of her clinical training at Maine Medical Center.
Brianna has experience working abroad in China, and… Read more
Waldo County family gets new home courtesy of Habitat for Humanity
SEARSMONT — Smiles and laughter filled a newly constructed home to capacity at a special dedication ceremony. Balloons marked the entrance to the home’s driveway, which quickly filled with cars that then spilled onto the street.
The scene was reminiscent of an especially large housewarming party, but the many attendees were celebrating much more than simply moving into a new residence.
The home so many gathered to celebrate was built from start to finish in three months, with the… Read more
Dachshunds gather for annual Belfast Wienerfest
BELFAST — Belfast’s annual Wienerfest marked its 12th year Sunday, bringing hoards of dachshunds to the waterfront, along with eager owners. While the weather at this year’s Wienerfest was less cooperative than in years past, the constant rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of those in attendance, whether they sported four legs, or two.
Each September the Friends of Belfast Parks hosts Wienerfest, and each… Read more
Pair arrested following Belfast business burglaries
BELFAST — A man and woman, both from Belfast, were arrested Aug. 17 following the burglaries of two downtown businesses in the early morning hours, according to Belfast Police Detective Bryan Cunningham.
Christopher D. Kelly, 34, was charged with two counts of burglary and two counts of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer. Kathleen Winslow, 38, was charged with theft by receiving stolen property.
The burglaries were allegedly witnessed by a downtown resident from her home.… Read more
Waldo County divorces
BELFAST — The following divorces were recorded at Waldo County Superior Court during the months of May and June.
Benjamin K. Ard, of Thorndike, and Samantha M. Tucker, of Unity, were married Aug. 21, 2014, in Thorndike and divorced May 27.
Robin L. Coffin, of Unity, and Edward Coffin, of Searsmont, were married Aug. 13, 2011, in Unity and… Read more
7th Annual Street Party revelers fill Belfast’s streets
BELFAST — The streets of Belfast were flooded with music and revelers Monday night, as the seventh annual Belfast Street Party celebrated another successful event.
The event, which is hosted by Our Town Belfast, takes place the first Monday of every August, and draws hundreds of participants each year.
This year’s attractions included a bucking bronco ride, Bungee jump, bounce house, hamster ball course and climbing wall, to name a few. … Read more
Celtic Celebration’s second day is soggy but crowds turn out anyway
BELFAST — Crowds gathered Saturday, July 18, on Belfast’s waterfront for the ninth annual Maine Celtic Celebration.
The second of the three-day festival was spent under cloudy skies, with frequent bouts of rain. Despite the weather, the spirits of those attending remained sunny.
The festival, which is a donation only event, offers unique wares, shows and workshops to those who braved the weather.
Friday’s entertainment included musical performances by Napper Tandies, Hanz… Read more
Arts in the Park draws crowds to Belfast
BELFAST — Hundreds descended on Belfast’s Heritage Park July 11 and12 to peruse the fine arts and crafts presented at the 20th annual Arts in the Park festival.
The event, which was presented by Friends of Belfast Parks, also included a variety of food and music to accompany visitors on each day. More than 80 different artists took their works to the event, which meant an equally diverse number of artistic mediums for shoppers to… Read more
Maine Fare draws thousands to Belfast’s waterfront
BELFAST — The waterfront was filled with a wide array of both visitors and vendors taking part in Belfast's annual Maine Fare. This year's event, hosted by Maine Farmland Trust and Penobscot East Resource Center, saw a sharp increase in attendees.
"We estimate that almost 3,000 people came to Maine Fare this year, which us about 1,000 more than last year," said Ellen Sabina, Outreach Director for Maine Farmland… Read more
Trek Across Maine bicyclists splash to the finish in Belfast
BELFAST — More than 2,000 cyclists rode down Miller Street to Steamboat Landing in Belfast this afternoon, June 21, marking an end to the 2015 Trek Across Maine.
The Trek Across Maine, which benefits the American Lung Association, is part of a series of annual Treks Across New England cycling events, held by the association.
So far this year, the events have raised a collective $750,000 for the… Read more
Waldo County divorces
BELFAST — The following divorces were recorded at Waldo County Superior Court during the months of April - June.
Brittany J. Flewelling, of Winterport, and Jarrod C. Flewelling, of Winterport, were married Sept. 10, 2011, in Jackson and divorced May 7.
Benjamin L. Bryant, of Knox, and Rosalina T. Bryant, of Belfast, were married Sept. 21, 2001, in Fayetteville, N.C. and divorced May 19.
Dawn RIchardson, of Northport, and Donna Richardson, of Northport, were married Aug. 17… Read more
Camden’s 2015 Memorial Day
CAMDEN — The citizens of Camden do honor their sons and daughters from the Revolutionary War forward, and each Memorial Day the town turns out to honor its war dead. Those who have sacrificed their lives so that each of us may enjoy the freedoms we do today is why we recognize this day.
Rodney Lynch led the ceremony at the harbor that included the Camden Hills Regional High School band, a military honor guard, a benediction, taps and laying of a wreath atop the harbor waters to honor… Read more
Waldo County deed transfers
BELFAST — The following deed transfers were recorded in the Waldo County Registry of Deeds April 27 - May 11.
Belfast
Deidre Pontbriand to Thomas R. Andersen.
Barbara G. Floyd EST to Renworth R. Floyd Jr., Dean J. Floyd and Maria M. Cohen.
Bert Bailey to Christine Bailey.
Dorothy K. Jordan to Zafra Whitcomb, Christine L. Legore and Jay Legore.
Belmont
Tamela Thomas and Mildred Gibbs to Fred L. Thomas Jr.
Waldo County divorces
BELFAST — The following divorces were recently recorded at Waldo County Superior Court during the months of March and April.
Lisa M. Jackson, of Burnham, and James C. Jackson, of Burnham, were married Jan. 23, 1982, in Clinton and divorced March 23.
Jessica A. Carleton, of Belmont, and Jeremiah W. Carleton, of Washington, were married Aug. 21, 2011, in Belmont and divorced March 5.
Michelle M. Watkins, of Oakland, and Eric M. Watkins, of Brooks, were married Sept. 23,… Read more
Earth Day Parade marches through Belfast
BELFAST — Residents and visitors of Belfast who happened to be downtown Sunday morning were treated to the second annual Earth Day Parade, featuring puppets crafted by creative residents.
To aid in the creativity, With Breath Puppetry, a local community puppet studio, invited anyone interested to work on their puppets at their High Street studio.
Parents, children and other members of the community gathered to create a wide array of puppets, some attached to children and others… Read more
Seasons Downeast Designs cultivates hidden treasures in Rockport
ROCKPORT — Anna Remsen, owner of Seasons Downeast Designs on Meadow Street in Rockport, readily admits her garden center is off the beaten path, but because she carries unusual and beautiful things, it brings patrons to her.
“I would say it is all encompassing beautiful things,” she said. “Whether it’s flowers, or gardening, or plants, it’s all things that make you happy.”
Seasons Downeast is home to plants, cut… Read more
Thomaston residents rally for dog park
THOMASTON — The Thomaston Café & Bakery downtown was abuzz with locals, who piled in for an evening of food, drink and a silent auction to help raise funds for the soon-to-be Thomaston Dog Park.
Polly Armstrong, president of the Thomaston Dog Park Association, said that the people love each other and the dogs love each other and they all got together and decided they needed a dog park with a fence. The park will be located close to the Thomaston Cemetery, on land owned by the town… Read more
Rockland readies roads for spring
ROCKLAND — Greg Blackwell’s to-do list is longer than yours. As director of Rockland’s Public Services Department (formerly known as Rockland Public Works,) Blackwell is the city’s go-to guy when it comes to clean-up, and this year’s tough winter season has left plenty to do.
“We are getting started with our street sweepers; that’s phase one. It’s hit or miss this time of year,” Blackwell said.
He explained that the sweepers can only run when the weather is warm enough to… Read more
Troy teenager charged in father’s death
BELFAST — The 16-year-old son of a Troy man, who was found dead March 8 in what the state Medical Examiner earlier this week ruled a homicide, made his first appearance in Belfast District Court April 3.
Colby Hodgdon stands accused of stabbing his father, Steven Hodgdon, 49, on March 7. State Police arrested the teenager in Lewiston April 1 and charged him with murder.
Hodgdon wore a dark blue hoodie Friday afternoon, as he entered the Belfast courthouse, escorted by two Waldo… Read more
Waldo County deed transfers
BELFAST — The following deed transfers were recorded at the Waldo County Registry of Deeds March 17-27.
Belfast
City of Belfast to Kevin and Dawn Grass.
Camden National Bank to Anne K. Saggese.
Roberta Tsukahara and James G. Starkey to David Brooks McKinney and Patricia J. Blakeslee.
Ralph R. Cameron to Ralph R. Cameron, Perry I. Barnard and Sarah Ellen Cameron Barnard.
Diane W. Mende and Diane Wood to August W. Mende III.
Tori Willauer takes helm at Rockland Community Sailing, plans youth seamanship expansion
ROCKLAND — Tori Willauer is looking forward to filling the sails at the Rockland Community Sailing Program as early as April, when the 420s and Optimists — dinghy sailboats — slip into Rockland Harbor.
“My ultimate goal is to create excellent seamanship and sailing programs that emphasize the fundamental skills of sailing,” said Willauer, the new waterfront director at… Read more
Belfast District Court closed cases
BELFAST — The following cases were closed in Belfast District Court March 12-19.
Tharon K. Blaisdell, 20, of Pittsfield, attaching false plates in Burnham Feb. 15, $150 fine.
Deborah Bowden, 51, of Waldo, assault in Brooks Jan. 22, $300 fine; criminal mischief in Brooks Jan. 22, $250 fine.
Jason Brunelle, 31, of Augusta, possession of marijuana up to 1.25 oz in Unity Feb. 16, $350 fine.
Eli N. Chadwick, 21, of Waldo, failure to register a vehicle in Belfast Feb. 23, $… Read more
Six Waldo County towns to hold annual meetings Saturday
WALDO COUNTY - The third week in March is typically one of biggest for town meetings in Waldo County. This weekend, six towns — Brooks, Burnham, Knox, Morrill, Jackson and Thorndike — will hold elections, pass budgets and hit other high points of municipal business. If you attend only one local government meeting this year, the town meeting should be the one.
Some municipalities hold elections on the Friday before the Saturday town meeting. Some… Read more