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.
The Midcoast’s checker of scales and pumps gets to work
BELFAST - When you buy a gallon of gas, how do you know it’s really a gallon? And what about a pound of apples?
There’s no guarantee you’ll get what you pay for. But if you live in one of 25 towns in the Midcoast, Robert Wiggin is the next best thing. For seven months out of the year, the “sealer of weights and measures” spot checks every commercial scale and gas pump in a string of towns from Bucksport to Newcastle.
The good news is that most of… Read more
Mystery gas smell in Swanville prompts call to pipeline operator
SWANVILLE - Several residents on the northwest side of Swan Lake caught wind of a gas smell Wednesday morning. After a visit from the Belfast Fire Department, the source remained a mystery.
Belfast Fire Chief Jim Richards said the department responded to a call at 6:45 a.m. from 1406 Swan Lake Avenue. There, several residents reported an odor that suggested a gas leak, he said. Richards said there are four or five houses located near the address of the complaint.
Firefighters… Read more
Northeast Montessori gets G.I. Bill approval to train instructors
CAMDEN — Anyone serving, or who has served in the U.S. military, is now approved to receive training and certification under the G.I. Bill to become Montessori instructors, according to Martha Monahan, leader of Northeast Montessori. Northeast Montessori currently teaches classes in Boston. Two years ago Northeast Montessori expanded and is now certifying instructors through the … Read more
Rockland considers establishing arts commission
ROCKLAND — Rockland’s Mayor Larry Pritchett did an excellent job moderating a special Rockland Council meeting Wednesday evening, March 19, as the community talked about how to accept and display art on city-owned property. As a panel of museum directors, volunteers and city officials moved through two hours of discussion, Pritchett kept the conversation on point.
Rockland has already placed three concrete slabs at the Ferry Terminal and one in Holbrook Park for the purpose of hosting… Read more
Knox County divorces
ROCKLAND — The following divorces were granted in Knox County November 2013 through March 1, 2014.
November
Melanie S. Butman, of Owls Head, and Jason A. Butman, of Thomaston, were married Sept. 17, 1994, in Thomaston and divorced Nov. 15, 2013.
December
Alan J. Talbot, of Camden, and Joan M. Talbot, of Milbridge, Wash., were married April 15, 1972, in Camden and divorced Dec. 10, 2013.
Laura M. Davis, of Camden, and Eric H.… Read more
Commercial navigators see obvious need for Searsport dredging, no guarantees
BELFAST - In a presentation to the The Propeller Club of Searsport and Bucksport last week, Captain David Gelinas made a lengthy case for the importance of dredging the channel at Mack Point cargo terminal in Searsport.
In some circles, a current proposal to deepen the channel has caused an uproar. But the Propeller Club, whose members includes active and retired U.S. Merchant Marines, Navy and Coast Guard officers, numerous alumni of Maine… Read more
Belfast Council split on backing fossil fuel divestment
BELFAST - Residents seeking the city’s support in a campaign to remove fossil fuel companies from the Maine Public Employees Retirement System’s investment portfolio got an endorsement of sorts, but only narrowly, and with strong reservations from several city councilors.
The group of citizens that appealed to the Council on Tuesday is part of a worldwide “divestment” movement. Supporters hope a boycott of oil, gas and coal companies by large investment pools like state retirement… Read more
Belfast parks group done picking up your dog’s ‘incidents’
BELFAST - For each of the last seven years, volunteers from Friends of Belfast Parks have donned rubber gloves and a sense of humor and picked up a winter’s worth of dog feces at the city’s waterfront parks. They called it “April Stools Day,” but this year they’re just calling it a day.
Carol Good, president of FOBP, broke the news to the City Council Tuesday. The group had voted against hosting an eighth event, she said, partly out of concern that dog owners might slack off knowing… Read more
Belfast Community TV producers seek out new angles, with a drone
NORTHPORT- Recently Belfast Community TV Station Manager Ned Lightner and Mark Kuzio, a regular contributor, were brainstorming about what to do with their new quadcopter. In several test flights, the radio-controlled helicopter with four propellers and a mount for a video camera had already produced some stunning views of Bayside Village.
When they got better at navigating it, Lighter said he was hoping to… Read more
Belfast library opens new teen space
BELFAST - The funky risers and bean bags are gone from the second-floor room in the Belfast Free Library once reserved for small children. Also gone are the model trains and miniature puppet theater. In their place, sleek red carpet squares over a layer of high-tech soundproofing foam run uninterrupted to the walls. New shelves are stocked with YA books. There are chairs and tables for lounging and socializing and and outlets — lots of them — for charging mobile devices, laptops, etc.
Belfast student honored with DAR good citizenship award
Curtis Warren, a Senior at Belfast Area High School, was awarded the DAR Good Citizens Award, March 11.
The DAR Good Citizens Award was created in 1934, and is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship.
The award recognizes and rewards individuals who possess the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in their… Read more
Rockland Main Street officially welcomes new director
ROCKLAND — Paul Benjamin, president of Rockland Main Street, introduced incoming executive director Gordon Page, Sr., to a small crowd during an informal reception hosted by the RMS board to welcome Page held at the Time Out Pub in Rockland. Page replaces long time Executive Director Lorain Francis, who left the position in December to serve as senior program director for the Maine Downtown Center in Augusta. The announcement of Page's appointment was made March 4.
Following his… Read more
U.S. Senate hopeful Shenna Bellows seeks continued support for grassroots campaign, $5 from Jackson
BELFAST - U.S. Senate candidate Shenna Bellows started making national headlines recently when her fundraising in the last quarter of 2013 surpassed that of three-term Senator Susan Collins.
On a visit to Belfast Sunday, the former director of ACLU Maine and presumptive Democratic nominee was hoping to build on that momentum. She toured Front Street Shipyard and Coastal Farms & Food Processing. In between she met with Waldo County Democrats to deliver a three-pronged assignment:… Read more
In Belfast, a question of when the players should pay
BELFAST - Members of the City Council on Tuesday sparred over whether to waive the rental fee for two groups hoping to use of the Belfast Boathouse for educational events. The requests were approved by majority votes, though only shortly after the Council unanimously, and with no discussion or fee, approved requests to hold a paddleboard race, two 5K private fundraisers and an Earth Day parade on city parklands and streets.
… Read moreSearsport voters approve RSU 20 withdrawal measure
SEARSPORT - Voters on Tuesday re-elected one selectmen, replaced another, and approved a measure to seek withdrawal from Regional School Unit 20.
In a four-way race for two seats on the board of selectmen, challenger John Merrithew and incumbent Richard Desmarais prevailed with 229 and 209 votes respectively. Selectman Doug Norman came in a close third with 204 votes. Challenger Travis Otis got 108 votes.
A ballot question that asked for voter approval to petition for withdrawal… Read more
Police charge inmate with murder in prison stabbing
State Police on Tuesday formally charged Richard Stahursky with murder in connection with the stabbing death of fellow inmate Micah Boland at the Maine State Prison in Warren Friday afternoon.
In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, State Police spokesman Steve McCausland said … Read more
Rockland turns attention to downtown side street sidewalks
ROCKLAND — The city of Rockland hopes to improve its sidewalks, and possibly incorporate the Harbor Trail into some of the upcoming work that benefits pedestrian walkways.
On Wednesday, March 5, the Rockland City Council will hold a special public hearing on a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant application the city’s Community Development Director is now completing. Community Development Director John Holden said the preliminary grant is due March 28 and the public hearing is… Read more
Revived Monroe General Store draws on all things local
MONROE — The building at the center of town is immediately recognizable in the architectural lexicon of little towns. That residents considered using for something other than a general store speaks to the nearly six years it stood vacant.
The business reopened in mid-February under new ownership, taking back the traditional “Monroe General Store” name and adding a revamped menu of prepared foods under the banner of the Wicked Rooster Café — named for a real rooster that General Manager… Read more
This week in Waldo County government
Town meeting season starts this coming weekend. Saturday marks the beginning of a run of annual town meetings in March. Many municipalities hold elections prior to the meeting. Poll times are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Check with your town office for details. Here are this week’s elections and town meetings:
Searsport municipal elections and RSU 20 withdrawal vote will be held March 4. The annual town meeting… Read more
Divorces in Waldo County
BELFAST —The following divorces were granted in Waldo County during January and February.
Dana R. Woods of Crownpoint, N.Y., and Tara Woods of Lincolnville, were married Aug. 25, 2007, in Lincolnville and divorced Feb. 18, 2014.
Wayne A. McKay of Flanders, N.J., and Sharon McKay of Frankfort, were married March 31, 2012, in Bangor and divorced Feb. 7, 2014.
Lyndon J. Adams of Old Orchard Beach and Roxann M. Adams of Winterport,… Read more
Death of Maine State Prison inmate ruled homicide
WARREN - The death of Micah Boland, an inmate at the Maine State Prison, has been classified as a homicide according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
In a press release Saturday, Maine State Police spokesman Steve McCausland said detectives from the State Police Major Crimes Unit had been working with prison officials since Friday evening and believe… Read more
Democrats statewide to caucus Sunday
Democrats around the state will caucus March 2 to choose candidates the general election in November.
U.S. Congressman Mike Michaud is challenging Republican Gov. Paul LePage. LePage is seeking his second term.
Michaud’s decision to run for governor has generated significant interest from both parties in his current post. Three Democrats are currently seeking their party’s… Read more
Knox County Republicans to caucus Saturday
This weekend sees a slate of party caucuses for the 2014 elections.
Knox County Republicans have two events scheduled on Saturday, Feb. 1. Most towns fall under the umbrella of a Super Caucus to be held at Rockland Middle School Rockland, at 12:30 p.m. For more information, contact: Bob Carter, 273-3471, rcjcsccc@aol.com
A Rockland Town Caucus will be also be held on Saturday… Read more
Comfortable outside the box, Searsport schools look to the wide world
STOCKTON SPRINGS - Will Hosmer, a student at Searsport District High School, related a satirical version of the story of Rip Van Winkle. The old man, he said, was unable to get his bearings after his famously long nap until he saw a school classroom. It was the only thing that hadn’t changed.
To this tongue-in-cheek dig at public schools, Hosmer added his own twist.
“He was not in Searsport or Stockton Springs,” he said.
When the laughter… Read more
Belfast City Council sorts through economic development proposals
BELFAST - A handful of proposals falling under the broad heading of “economic development” came before the Belfast City Council, Feb. 18.
The Council approved a set of changes to the Northport Avenue TIF (Tax Increment Financing) district, which sets aside taxes from increased value — typically from a business expansion — in a separate fund for improvements to infrastructure within the district.
Under the new rules, tax revenue from increased value of personal property will be… Read more
Waldo County officials set tax rate for 2014
BELFAST - The Waldo County Commissioners last week approved the 2014 budget and set a mil rate of $1.72 (per $1,000 of property value). The amount is up slightly from last year’s $1.70, but due to changes in state valuation, many towns will pay less toward county government operations this year.
Overall, the $7.5 million budget is down $157,000 from last year, and $197,000 under the state’s L.D. 1 tax cap — a target figure intended to limit the annual growth of local… Read more
Camden, Rockport Select and Planning boards focus on Route 1 corridor, problematic intersection
ROCKPORT — Camden and Rockport have engaged Frank O’Hara, a principal in the Portland-based Planning Decisions, to lead a joint meeting of the Camden Select and Planning boards to talk about the stretch of Route 1 between Quarry Hill and Leonard’s, in Rockport. The Feb. 18 discussion, which is a public meeting, will also include the problematic intersection of John Street, Camden Street, Conway Road and Route 1.
The workshop will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Rockport Town Office in… Read more
Rockland’s Mid-Coast Gym is about being healthier and stronger
ROCKLAND — Mona Stearns owns and operates Mid-Coast Gym at 44 Park Street in Rockland. MCG is an 8,000-square-foot facility. Twenty-four years ago, Mona and her husband, along with her brother-in-law, built Mid Coast Gym. Mona is not only the owner, but also a personal trainer and a registered nurse. She said her goal is healthy and not just skinny. Penobscot Bay Pilot spent a few minutes with Mona to talk about the gym.
“This used to be the old FMC building,” she said. “It was a… Read more
RSU 13 elects new school board chairman, appoints interim superintendent with pay at $500 per day
ROCKLAND — An interim superintendent and a new school board chairman are the latest developments in the ongoing saga of RSU 13 and its leadership woes. At its Feb. 11 regular RSU 13 meeting, held at theMcClain School, the school board voted 9 to 2 to appoint Michael Wilhelm, of Casco, as interim superintendent. He will take over the reins from outgoing Superintendent Lew Collins, whose last day is this Friday. Board member Steve Roberts, of Rockland, was elected to replace board chairman… Read more
Schooner ‘Nathaniel Bowditch’ going to public auction Feb. 14 at Camden’s Sharp’s Wharf
ROCKLAND — It's a sad day when a storied local business ends up in financial trouble and goes on the auction block, but when it's a schooner that dates back to 1922 and a business that continues to ply the tourist trade off Maine's Midcoast, there is much reason to mourn.
The schooner Nathaniel Bowditch will be auctioned… Read more