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.
Boats, Homes and Harbors Show brings Maine creativity (and boatyard dogs) to Rockland
ROCKLAND – No sooner did the Lobster Festival tents come down than preparations began for the 12th annual Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors Show, August 8-10.
The show is put on by the Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors magazine, which has been covering the coastal lifestyle in Maine for almost 30 years. John Hanson, the publisher of the magazine, says that same theme informs the show.
“That’s always been the basis of what we’ve tried to do with the show,” Hanson said. “’What… Read more
Focus of RSU 20 withdrawal shifts to details of what would come next
BELFAST - Plans by five municipalities to simultaneously leave Regional School Unit 20 have been approved by district officials and are a few technical details shy from approval by the state Department of Education, according to Belfast city attorney Kristin Collins. Though withdrawal is still subject to a final referendum vote in November, local committee members are already looking ahead to the details of reforming on the other side.
Collins told the City Council Tuesday that a 15-… Read more
Proposed reorganization at Belfast City Hall follows wave of resignations
BELFAST - Belfast City Clerk Denise Beckett and two other staff members from the clerk’s and treasurer’s offices submitted resignation papers in late spring. As of August 2, only Deputy Clerk/Assistant Treasurer Lynn Farrar had left. Beckett and Deputy Clerk Denise Hylton have stayed beyond their planned departure dates while the city searches for their replacements. The city also brought on former Palermo town clerk Sheila McCarty to help on a temporary basis.
On Tuesday, the Council… Read more
Rockland digs immediately to stem sewage path into harbor
ROCKLAND – At a special meeting Aug. 4, the Rockland City Council continued planning to develop a 2015 work plan, set the agenda for its Aug. 11 meeting, and heard about immediate repairs being made to a damaged sewer line on Mechanic Street.
Terry Pinto, Water Pollution Director, told the council at the end of the session that dye testing and televising on Mechanic Street revealed that a section of older sewer line had been cut in half by a newer storm sewer, rerouting sewage from two… Read more
Parking, lighting plans to get aired before Rockland City Council
ROCKLAND – On Monday Aug. 4, city officials will present the Rockland City Council with their recommendations for improvements to the parking lot off Thorndike Street and the electrical cables on Winter Street.
According to John Holden, Community Development Director for Rockland, the current improvements being considered for the Thorndike parking lot center on lighting and layout.
Belfast District Court closed cases
BELFAST — The following cases were closed in Belfast District Court July 7-24.
Gerald R. Allen, 33, of Plymouth, violating condition of release in Troy May 10, $200 fine; operating while license suspended or revoked in Troy May 10, $500 fine.
Leah M. Allen, 40, of Belfast, allowing a dog to be at large in Belfast May 7, $100 fine; keeping an unlicensed dog in Belfast May 7, $25 fine.
Sean R. Anderson, 32, of Liberty, obscuring motor vehicle plate marks in Searsmont May 9… Read more
Rockland gears up for Lobster Festival
ROCKLAND – Locals and out-of-towners, volunteers and fairground professionals have all been working long days for the past week to get Harbor Park ready for the 67th annual Lobster Festival.
Mike McGuire, one of 36 festival directors, says that some have been working a lot longer.
“We’ve been planning this year’s festival since a month after last year’s closed,” McGuire said.
Although planning and pulling off the festival is a lot of work, McGuire said he enjoys it. His… Read more
Knox County Superior Court closed cases
ROCKLAND — The following cases were closed in Knox County Superior Court July 7-21.
Bronson Simmons, 26, of Rockport, probation violation in Warren June 9, nine months in jail; stealing drugs in Rockland Jan. 4, 2010, seven days in jail, probation partially revoked and continued; probation violation in Rockland Jan. 4, 2010, nine months in jail, probation partially revoked and continued.
Richard J. Stanton, 27, of Hope, unlawful possession of a scheduled drug in Hope March 13, 15… Read more
Rockland District Court closed cases
ROCKLAND — The following cases were closed in Rockland District Court July 7-21.
Michael A. Adams, 31, of Union, disorderly conduct in Union April 6, 14 days in jail; domestic violence assault in Union April 6, dismissed; operating under the influence in Rockland June 29, 180 days in jail with all but 14 days suspended, one year of probation, license suspended for three years and $700 fine; violating condition of release in Rockland June 29, 48 hours in jail.
Lavon S. Ames III,… Read more
Deed transfers, Knox County
ROCKLAND — The following deed transfers were recorded at the Knox County Registry of Deeds July 7-21.
Appleton
Alan E. Millay to Adam A. Crabtree.
John C. Tingley to Jonathan Wilder.
Camden
Nicholas D. Wharton to Shelley A. Thompson.
David C. Whittier to David C. Whittier TR.
Mountain Arrow Village Green In to John Healy MCL.
Steven G. Macdonald to Vidalina Fernandez.
Minnie R. Levensaler EST to Gerald A… Read more
Waldo County Sheriff’s Office beat: trespassing, operating under the influence, domestic violence
BELFAST — The Waldo County Sheriff's Office reported the following activity July 13 – July 25. An arrest or summons does not imply guilt.
July 4 (late entries)
Timothy E. Dyer, 33, of Jackson, was issued summonses for domestic violence assault, domestic violence obstructing the report of a crime, domestic violence terrorizing and refusing to submit to arrest or detention.
Mark E. Tibbetts, 41, of Appleton, was… Read more
Goose River Grocery’s barbecue plans on, despite fire
BELFAST - Kyle and Helen Skinner had already planned two weekends of barbecues at Goose River Grocery in August when a fire forced them to close the store earlier this month. On Friday, Kyle acknowledged the irony. Someone had already made a comment to him about the goose being cooked.
“Y’know, it’s funny, but it’s not,” he said.
In the end, Skinner said they’ve decided to go ahead with the barbecues, which will be held over the next two… Read more
Belfast’s 18th annual Arts in the Park a stream of creativity
BELFAST — More than 50 vendors set up shop July 12 and 13 on Belfast's waterfront as the city's 18th annual Arts in the Park festival took over the seaside with an impressive array of unique wares.
Midcoast residents and visitors alike spent the weekend wandering the different booths, kept company by a constant stream of live music performed by local groups, including the Belfast Bay Fiddlers.
One booth set up a stone's throw from the musician's tent was run by volunteers for the… Read more
Birthday cake and balloons: Camden Opera House’s 120th celebration begins
CAMDEN — Massive inflatable balloons and two birthday cakes marked the beginning of the Camden Opera House’s 120th anniversary celebration that will continue through the rest of the year.
The Village Green became busy as birthday cake was served and Alex and Shayna sang Happy Birthday.
Fred Garbo said he was excited for the performance of Fred Garbo’s Inflatable Theatre Company at 7 p.m. Saturday. This is his 30th year putting on the show.
Opera… Read more
Belfast’s Goose River Grocery gutted in Tuesday night fire
BELFAST - A fire on Tuesday night caused significant damage to the interior of Goose River Grocery on Swan Lake Avenue. As of Wednesday morning, the exterior and roof of the East Side fixture remained intact, but the windows were blackened and the door was boarded up.
Belfast Fire Chief Jim Richards the fire was reported at around 9 p.m. The store had closed around 8:30 p.m., and no one was in the building at the time, he said, but by the time firefighters got there, he believed it had… Read more
Morrill woman escapes injury after car catches fire
BELFAST - A little smoke under the hood turned into a blaze that ultimately engulfed the car of a Morrill woman Saturday night. No one was injured in the fire, which temporarily closed an onramp from Main Street to Route 1.
According to police, Mariah Lapham was traveling on Starrett Drive at around 9 p.m. when she noticed a small amount of smoke coming from the front of her car.
By the time she reached the eastbound Route 1 on-ramp, the amount of smoke had increased. Speaking… Read more
‘Accessible’ garden gets off the ground in Belfast
BELFAST - A new handicap-accessible garden at the Starrett Children’s Center has yet to receive a single visitor in wheelchair. But to hear the preschool’s director Linda Stec talk about it, the project, which she describes simply as the “accessible garden,” is very much living up to its name.
As it turns out, the same modifications that put gardening within reach… Read more
Penobscot Bay YMCA expands fitness, programs to Rockland waterfront
ROCKLAND — The Penobscot Bay YMCA’s expansion to the Rockland waterfront will focus on quality child care and fitness services. Executive Director Troy Curtis said the expansion is something he has been exploring for years and should be completed by November 1.
“We’re very much positioned in the northern part of the county and the population base is really Rockland, Thomaston and Warren,” he said. “We’ve had a strong desire to better service… Read more
Loose ends lead RSU 20 board to postpone withdrawal vote
BELFAST - The Regional School Unit 20 Board of directors had planned vote Tuesday on withdrawal plans from six towns seeking to leave the district. However, the members pushed the vote back a week when it became apparent that negotiations were ongoing.
Five of the six towns — Belfast, Belmont, Morrill, Searsmont and Swanville — are pursuing a plan to leave the district together and re-form as a new RSU similar to the pre-2009 consolidation SAD 34.… Read more
Deed Transfers, Knox County
ROCKLAND — The following deed transfers were recorded at the Knox County Registry of Deeds June 23 - July 6.
Camden
Barbara M. EST to John F. Doyle.
Cynthia W. Murray to Cynthia W. Murray TR.
Nancy Gregory Cummings TR to Nancy G. Cummings.
Nancy G. Cummings to Allen W. Durow Jr.
Alexander S. Pfotenhauer to Alexander Pfotenhauer TR.
Gary J. Walker to Jaime C. Stone.
Maryanne Shanahan to Weiss Hospitality Inc.
Thomas… Read more
Road-tested Belfast band stays home this time, leaves the door open
BELFAST - Dan Beckman and Amy Moon looked at some 70 homes before settling on a fixer-upper on Mill Lane in 2006. Perched above a bend in the road, the old farmhouse had space to garden and keep chickens, room indoors to make art, have a band and run a record label. It also had a rustic barn for hosting live music shows by a steady stream of musicians they'd met during a decade of touring the country — independents like themselves, willing to… Read more
Thomaston fireworks canceled
THOMASTON — UPDATE: The fireworks for tonight in Thomaston have been canceled for tonight and Sunday. This is the first time in recent memory that have been canceled — an unusual weekend all around.
CAMDEN — With an 80 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms in Thursday's weather forecast for Friday, July 4, and a 90 percent chance of the same Independence Day night, Camden's fireworks display has been canceled.
Staci Coomer, executive director of the Penobscot Bay… Read more
Camden Snow Bowl prepped for more rain, assembling working group to assist with next steps
CAMDEN — There may be a good chance of severe thunderstorms this evening and a flash flood watch in place for Knox County until 8 p.m., but Camden Snow Bowl officials feel cautiously optimistic that they are ready for it, and getting more ready every hour.
"We are in good shape," said Snow Bowl Facilities Manager Bill "Fitzy" Fitzcharles Wednesday afternoon. "We have cleared out and installed new water bars up and down Spinnaker and installed temporary water bars on Northeaster, with… Read more
Belfast’s hiking and biking proposals have legs
BELFAST - After several passes, committee recommendations for pedestrian improvements and bike lanes on a section of Main Street that has historically been kinder to cars and trucks got the green light from the City Council on Tuesday.
The Pedestrian Hiking and Biking Committee has been searching for low-cost ways to help walkers and bicyclists safely travel the disappearing sidewalks, busy intersections, dead-end crosswalk and roads with ambiguous lane markings between the downtown… Read more
Snow Bowl mountain mud runoff causes headache for neighbors, town
CAMDEN — To all of those who gathered on the slopes of Ragged Mountain overlooking Hosmer Pond Monday afternoon, it was clear that something had gone awry. The mountain face had more skidder paths than intended, according to project officials, and there was bare earth on those paths and others, waiting to mix with the next rains and again slide down the hill.
Worse yet, Hosmer pond was still a murky brown, albeit becoming a little less murky each day.
For Camden Parks and… Read more
Deed transfers, Waldo County
BELFAST — The following deed transfers were recorded at the Waldo County Registry of Deeds June 9-21.
Belfast
Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Shawn M. Wetherington and Jennifer M. Wetherington to Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.
City of Belfast to Jean M. Evans Revocable Trust.
Eric H. Olds and Elisa K.D. Olds to Steven J. Hoffman and Sharon M. Hoffman.
Alan M. Wood to Alan M. Wood and Julie W. Wood.
City of Belfast to Scott L. Wood.
… Read moreBelfast’s Seahorse Stables makes hay at Route 3 landmark
BELFAST - For several years, a “for sale” sign by a sloping field on Route 3 called attention to the “million dollar view” across Penobscot Bay.
Today the sign is gone and the property has been transformed by Amy Miller into an eye-catching commercial horse farm called Seahorse Stables. The million dollar view is still there for weary eastbound drivers. Meanwhile, riders can avail themselves of a million dollar view on horseback.
Construction… Read more
Camden Opera House is 120 years old, and celebrating
CAMDEN — The Camden Opera House celebrates its 120th anniversary this year with a summer and fall list of events brimming with concerts and shows.
Opera House manager Kerry Hadley said the festivities kick off July 19 with the Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Co. show that night.
That afternoon the village green will host a display of the inflatables and musical community groups, followed by a birthday cake in honor of the event.
The year marks the 120 anniversary of the… Read more
Columbus’ ‘Nina’ and ‘Pinta’ dock in Camden Harbor
CAMDEN — Columbus’s Nina and Pinta will spend the week in Camden Harbor as a fully functional floating museum. Stationed at the public landing in downtown Camden, the two ships act as an authentic replication of Columbus famous fleet. On board they are set up like floating museums with a crew excited to share their onboard experience.
Only missing is the Santa Maria, a different style boat that captain Stephen Sanger… Read more
Sailing aboard schooner Mary Day: Beachcombing Marshall Island
TOOTHACHER BAY — Tuesday aboard Mary Day was welcomed with blueberry pancakes and crispy bacon, and word that a saw-whet owl had called nearly all night Monday from the shore of Marshall Island.
Monday's day-long sail took the schooner Mary Day across 51 nautical miles of ocean, southeast out of Camden, south of Isle au Haut and then northeast to Marshall Island, west of Swans Island.
The guests and crew aboard the schooner spent Monday night anchored off… Read more