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.
Challenging winter for Coast Guard cutter ‘Thunder Bay’
ROCKLAND — Lt. Zac Bender is the commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Thunder Bay, whose home port is Rockland. Thunder Bay returned home after a 61-day deployment on the Hudson River breaking up ice. It is part of the Coast Guard’s regional effort to ensure Northeast communities have security, supplies and emergency resources throughout the winter.
Thunder Bayis the eighth of nine 140-foot ice breaking tugboats in the Coast Guard’s fleet of the bay class. Six… Read more
Belfast Council questions expert cost estimates after second major misquote
BELFAST - Plans to remove an outcropping of rock at the intersection of Routes 1 and 141 have gone at a geologic pace since they were proposed in 2013, despite the apparent efforts of city officials to move things along. Unlike past safety improvements delayed by the timelines of state agencies, the rock removal appeared to have been held up because the… Read more
Knox County recognizes 65 employees for service
ROCKLAND — Knox County Commissioners Roger Moody, Carol Maines and Rick Parent Jr,. along with County Administrator Andrew Hart and Human Resources Representative Laurie Bouchard, Monday recognized county employees for five, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 35 years of service. In all, 65 employees received recognition for their tenure.
The ceremonies took place in the Knox Commissioners chambers in the County Court House at noon, March 16, and then again at the Knox County Regional Communications… Read more
The slipper’s tighter, but the Cinderella Project still enchants
BELFAST - On a recent Friday afternoon, a few women worked behind a curtain of sorts — storefront windows papered over in a regal shade of purple.
"What's the style this year?" someone said from behind a rack jammed with formal dresses. "Does anybody know what the girls are into?"
No one answered.… Read more
A conversation with Maria Libby, new Five Town CSD/SAD 28 superintendent
CAMDEN — Today, Maria Libby is the assistant superintendent for the Five Town Community School District (Camden Hills Regional High School) and School Administrative District 28 (Camden-Rockport_ systems. It is a job she has held for two years. On March 10, the Camden-area school boards voted to hire Libby as the districts’ new superintendent. Current Superintendent Elaine Nutter tendered her resignation in December and will continue to hold that position until June 30. PenBayPilot caught up… Read more
Pi in the sky or in your eye, it’s National Pi Day
THOMASTON — Today, March 14, is National Pi Day. Not the kind we eat, but the kind we multiply, divide, add and subtract. And there’s a very special meaning to this pi day. Can you guess? Everything arithmetical was the theme Friday at Lura Libby Elementary School in Thomaston. From 9 to 11 a.m. the kindergarten through fourth-grade students celebrated Pi Day with a variety of math related themes that involved the whole school.
“It’s all about awareness to math,” said Michelle Ford,… Read more
I took the state’s new standardized test (sort of), and it wasn’t all that
BELFAST — Students here in third- through eighth-grades started a week of state-mandated assessments on Monday. The new test, made by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, replaces the fall New England Common Assessment Program exam and is meant to measure how well students are faring under the Common Core standards adopted by the state in 2011, and put in place in the 2013-14 school year.
RSU 20 board: No Saturday classes, some school after graduation
BELFAST - Regional School Unit 20 has had six snow days this year. A proposal to make up three of them by holding school on Saturdays was voted down by the district’s board of directors Tuesday night, but not without some confusion over what was at stake.
The eight-town district will be in session until June 22 counting the six added days for snow cancellations.
Police union contract in Belfast breaks seal on employee health insurance premiums
BELFAST - To anyone working in the private sector, government jobs can look awfully generous. Even by the standards of other municipalities, Belfast’s full health insurance coverage for employees is high. But for spouses and dependents, the city has been among the stingiest municipalities in the state.
Belfast currently pays the full $708 monthly… Read more
Belfast rail trail abutters seek federal payout, willing to return city money
BELFAST - A group of property owners abutting the former Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad corridor is seeking damages from the Federal Government related to the conversion of the route to a recreational trail. What they stand to gain remains unknown, but the stakes are high enough that they’re willing to return hundreds of dollars paid to them by the city.
The suit comes via Baker, Sterchi, Cowden & Rice, a Missouri-based law firm… Read more
Searsport to hold elections Tuesday in advance of annual town meeting
SEARSPORT - Voters will pick two selectmen from a field of three and decide several other municipal positions in a regular municipal elections, Tuesday, March 3. Other business will be taken up this Saturday, March 7, at the annual town meeting.
Candidates for the Board of Selectmen include Aaron Fethke, Doug Norman and Walter Sarnacki. The position carries a three-year term.
PenBayPilot, WRFR and Channel 7 host Rockland, Owls Head candidates forum
ROCKLAND — It’s coming time to elect one candidate from a field of four for the empty Rockland/Owls Head District 93 seat in the Maine Legislature. To help voters get acquainted with the candidates, PenBayPilot.com in conjunction with community radio WRFR in Rockland and Mainecoast.TV (Channel 7) will host a special forum Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 7 a.m. on WRFR, 93.3 in Rockland and 99.3 in Camden as part of PenBayPilot’s Chris Wolf Show. The forum will be simulcast on Mainecoast.TV and… Read more
Penobscot School hosts 25 students and teachers for Camden Conference
ROCKLAND — Two dozen (plus one) students from the Midcoast and around Maine gathered at the Penobscot School in Rockland for an intensive look at Russian culture prior to their attendance of this year’s Camden Conference, which is underway this weekend. The theme this year is Russia, and the students were provided scholarships to attend through the Camden Conference.
Dr. Karolyn Snyder, head of the education committee for the Camden Conference, said the conference has a pilot project… Read more
Firefighters squelch blazes in Swanville and Searsport
SWANVILLE - Twelve hours after tending the smoldering remains of a house fire on Chandler Road, Belfast firefighters were back in Swanville to put out a blaze in a mobile home.
Fire Chief Jim Richards said Belfast got the call just before 9:30 p.m., Tuesday. Firefighters reached the home at 433 Oak Hill Road within 10 minutes, he said, but it was already fully ablaze.
Richards said the owner, Jeri Gay, got out of the house safely. “I guess she could smell smoke,” Richards said. “… Read more
In Belfast, last call for former theater, railroad building
BELFAST - 45 Front Street has had at least two significant lives already, as part of the now-bygone Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad terminal complex, and later as a performance space for the Belfast Maskers theater group. The third act will likely go on without the tipsy wooden structure that made the first two possible, but city officials have put demolition plans on hold briefly on account of the history of the building.
“If an entity has an interest in moving the Maskers… Read more
Swanville home gutted in Monday night fire
SWANVILLE - Firefighters from a half-dozen towns worked through the night into early hours Tuesday morning to contain a house fire on a rural road north of Swan Lake.
The fire at 109 Chandler Road was called in around 5 p.m., Feb. 16. Belfast Fire Chief Jim Richards said it was reported as a chimney fire. When a second call came in that the house had caught fire, he called in mutual aid from neighboring towns.
The owner, William West, was home at the time and escaped without… Read more
As snow cancellations pile up in the Midcoast, do new ones become less likely?
MIDCOAST — Monday was a holiday, but if it weren’t, what are the chances it would have been a snow day?
Rewind to Saturday night when second blizzard of the season arrived. Forecasts suggested Sunday morning would find our already-absurd mounds of snow hidden beneath more of the stuff that would need to be plowed into even bigger absurd mounds. As we know now, that didn’t happen. There were a few wily inches blown up into unpredictable drifts here and there. And it… Read more
All the Searsport boys with the pumped up kicks
SEARSPORT — When athletes don pink for breast cancer awareness, the effect is usually pretty noticeable. Less so on the court at Searsport District High School.
The varsity basketball team wore pink laces and socks in their final regular season game against Islesboro last week. They also wore shoes that were mint green, purple, safety orange, icy blue and a middle gray that had a way of making all the above… Read more
RSU 3 superintendent hired by Gorham School District
UNITY - RSU 3 Superintendent Heather Perry will be heading to Gorham next year after five years with the 11-town Western Waldo County district.
Perry was officially hired by the Gorham School Board on Wednesday, but the unianimous vote was mostly a formality. Out of 17 applicants for the position, she was the lone finalist.
Asked about the move, Perry said she was looking for a change and jumped at the chance to work in a more populous area with more… Read more
Knox County Airport seeking new advisory commitee members
OWLS HEAD — According to Jeff Northgraves, manager of the Knox County Regional Airport, the Airport Advisory Committee is looking to fill three vacancies in 2015. The committee (APAC) links Midoast communities, the airport manager… Read more
Belfast District Court closed cases
BELFAST — The following cases were closed in Belfast District Court Feb. 2-9.
Serena Brown, 31, of Swanville, operating while license suspended or revoked in Belfast Jan. 7, 48 hours in jail and $500 fine.
Albert W. Cecere, 66, of Unity, operating while license suspended or revoked in Unity Jan. 14. $250 fine.
Alan G. Clark, 47, of Belfast, operating while license suspended or revoked in Belmont Dec. 29, $250 fine.
Mark W. Cook Jr., 29, of Searsmont, operating while… Read more
Waldo County Superior Court closed cases
BELFAST — The following cases were closed in Waldo County Superior Court Feb. 2-9.
Candice Elwell, 37, of Belfast, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon in Belfast July 21, dismissed.
Michael Gagnon, 47, of Winslow, gross sexual assault in Waldo April 4, dismissed.
Miranda M. Kelly, 28, of Lincolnville, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer in Lincolnville July 31, six months in jail with all suspended, one year of probation and $35.16 restitution; violating… Read more
Massachusetts logistics company mum on Belfast plans, for now
BELFAST - Economic Development Director Thomas Kittredge submitted a grant application last week on behalf of Ashland, Mass.-based OnProcess Technology for $1.1 million toward setting up offices in Belfast. If that happens, the company has pledged to invest an equal amount of its own money and create 50 new jobs here.
That’s all “if.” And for now, the company is keeping quiet… Read more
Fire destroys home of Brooks café owner
BROOKS - An unexplained fire leveled a Brooks home Wednesday morning.
Firefighters were called out shortly before 10 a.m. to a one-and-a-half-story home on Veterans Highway owned by Susan Champa and her sons Frank and Peter.
Susan and Frank, who is co-owner of Ralph’s Café, were out of the country, according to Brooks Fire Chief Jeff Archer… Read more
Say it with shellfish
BELFAST - Valentine’s Day is still three days off, but that’s close enough for fresh seafood.
At Hannaford supermarket Wednesday morning, Tim Taylor unveiled a display of mussels in the shape of a heart. On the top, spelled out in ice was, “Be Mine.”
Asked about the creation, he acknowledged it was his work. “I just wanted to do something different,” he said.
Belfast District Court closed cases
BELFAST — The following cases were closed in Belfast District Court Jan. 16-30.
Amanda L. Bedard, 28, of Winterport, operating while license suspended or revoked in Winterport Dec. 17, $750 fine; displaying a suspended license in Winterport Dec. 17, dismissed.
Paul Belden, 57, of Belfast, criminal trespass in Belfast Dec. 18, $250 fine.
Mandy Benson, 33, of Winterport, operating while license suspended or revoked in Frankfort Dec. 15, $500 fine.
Gerald R. Berghold, 66… Read more
Belfast pays last of RSU 20 withdrawal bills
BELFAST - Any benefits in the city’s decision to leave Regional School Unit 20 remain to be seen. But the cost of the process is now known.
On Tuesday, the Council authorized spending just over $4,000 to pay outstanding legal bills. The expense was the last in a running account earmarked for RSU withdrawal totalling $95,000 over a period of three years.
Most of the total amount, roughly $70,000, went toward legal fees. The multi-town withdrawal had no precedent in Maine and no… Read more
Belfast Council talks rail trail railings, the fewer the better
BELFAST - At post-meeting work session Tuesday, councilors reviewed engineering recommendations for the Passy Rail Trail project. Particularly, they looked at how much guardrail to erect along the 2.3 miles of former railroad corridor between Veteran’s Memorial Bridge and City Point Station.
Greg Bakos of… Read more
Happy ending for Midcoast delivery truck waylaid by snows in Belfast
BELFAST - Family Dollar got a delivery of dry goods in the middle of yesterday’s snowstorm. Two hours later, the cashier called down to Rockland, the next stop on the route, and learned that the driver had never arrived. When she hung up, she spotted the branded truck passing along Cedar Street at the far end of the parking lot.
“I thought I was seeing things,” she said. “We had no idea he was still here that… Read more
Waldo County Superior Court closed cases
BELFAST — The following cases were closed in Waldo County Superior Court Jan. 1-15.
Kenneth A. Fay, 58, of Ridley Park, Pa., operating under the influence in Belfast July 6, 2012, 13 days in jail, license suspended for 90 days and $750 fine.
Jessica M. Hustus, 22, of Swanville, unlawful possession of oxycodone in Belfast June 3, two years in prison with all but 60 days suspended, two years of probation and $400 fine.
Alvaro Soares, 29, of Unity, manslaughter in Thorndike… Read more