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.
Rockland considers extending, expanding tax increment financing districts
ROCKLAND — They are called TIFs, the acronym for tax increment financing. In a special meeting of the Rockland City Council, Monday, Sept. 23, in Council Chambers at City Hall, councilors read through pages of updates for both the Fisher and Tillson TIF districts. After two hours of discussion, they postponed enacting the amendments to Oct. 16, for the Fisher TIF and Nov. 13, for the Tillson TIF.
“The biggest thing to get out of this tonight is for people not to think that this is a… Read more
Fermentation guru makes kraut and conversation in Belfast
BELFAST - After the publication of his book Wild Fermentation in 2003, Sandor Katz loaded his car with sauerkraut and set out to spread the word on the benefits of preserving food with bacteria. Along the way, he learned to what a large degree fermentation is a matter of taste.
At one stop, an Austrian woman accustomed to the soft texture of heavily fermented sauerkraut, likened Katz’s crunchy samples to coleslaw. … Read more
Belfast residents, councilors question details of Harbor Walk
BELFAST — The new waterfront pedestrian and biking path known as the Belfast Harbor Walk has been well received since workers broke ground early this summer. But on Sept. 17, residents and city officials raised concerns about some details, particularly the lighting along the path and what one resident called “the loss of the night sky.”
Bill Kao of Commercial Street said a report from the Harbor Walk lighting engineer didn’t… Read more
Voters approve RSU 20 budget, withdrawal in two towns
Voters from the eight towns of Regional School Unit 20 collectively approved the school district’s 2013-14 budget on Tuesday by a vote of 914-749. The validation ended a stalemate between district officials and voters who had previously rejected two drafts of the budget at the polls.
In a separate ballot question, Searsmont and Northport voters each approved measures to pursue withdrawal from the school district. Belfast and Belmont voters approved withdrawal questions in August, and… Read more
A "wiener-ful" weekend in Belfast
BELFAST — Nearly 100 Dachshunds descended upon Belfast’s Steamboat Landing Park Sept. 8 to celebrate the 10th annual Wienerfest. Some of the four-legged participants traveled from as far away as Germany to show the crowd their costumes and revel in a day of compliments.
Gates opened at 11 a.m. as a steady stream of Dachshunds made their way into the park, but the real festivities kicked off with a parade at noon. Led by Diane Mendes-Wood, who is the original founder of… Read more
Meeting spaces top warrant at upcoming Montville special town meeting
MONTVILLE - An inspection by the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office earlier this year set the stage for an upcoming special town meeting, Sept. 28, at which residents will be asked to consider the future of three municipal buildings.
Selectmen are expected to sign the warrant for the town meeting on Tuesday night, but a notice from the town on Monday said residents would be asked to consider plans to renovate the Montvile Town House, allowing non-municipal uses of the Town Office… Read more
Camden to sound dam siren Sept. 17
CAMDEN — On Tuesday, Sept. 17, Camden will conduct a test of the Seabright Dam emergency siren. The siren is at the Seabright Dam, 121 Mt. Battie Street, and is a component of the Seabright Dam Emergency Action Plan.
Its purpose is to alert residents in the event that the Seabright Dam were to fail or appeared to be in danger of failing. The dam is near Shirt Tail Point, where Megunticook Lake becomes Megunticook River and winds down to Camden Harbor.
For the purpose of this… Read more
Waldo County Sheriff's Office beat
BELFAST — The Waldo County Sheriff’s Office reported the following activity Sept. 8-12. An arrest or summons does not imply guilt.
Sept. 8
Anthony H. St. Peter, 23, of Belfast, was summonsed for speeding 90 mph (criminal speeding) in a posted 50 mph zone on Route 137 in Knox.
Philip W. Parsons, 53, of Hampden, was arrested for criminal trespass and domestic violence stalking.
Sept. 12
Robert L. Johnson, 35, of Knox, was… Read more
Belfast police beat
BELFAST — The Belfast Police Department reported the following activity Sept. 7-12. An arrest or summons does not imply guilt.
Sept. 7
Robyn L. Cornell, 22, of Brownville Junction, was arrested for operating under the influence on Route 3.
Sept. 9
Cynthia P. Orcutt, 58, of Carrabassett Valley, was summonsed for failure to provide proof of insurance.
Katie A. Neally, 27, of Troy, was summonsed for speeding 39 mph in a 25 mph on… Read more
Thorndike, county officials deny MOFGA tax exempt bid
THORNDIKE - An application by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association for property tax exempt status in Thorndike has been denied by town officials. Waldo County officials have denied a subsequent appeal. A similar request in Unity is under consideration.
MOFGA filed for exemptions in both towns in 2012. The organization pays roughly $5,000 per year in taxes in Thorndike and $1,300 in Unity, according to officials in the two towns. In… Read more
RSU 20 budget runs the public meeting gauntlet, exits untouched
BELFAST — RSU 20 Superintendent Brian Carpenter opened Tuesday night’s public budget meeting with a plea to the 150 voters in attendance: accept that the 2013-14 budget will result in a property tax increase.
“The only way we’re not going to get one is to cut 16 more teachers,” he said, Sept. 10,
Two previous drafts of the budget were rejected at validation referendums held in June and July. Residents on one side of the debate have been outspoken against proposed staff cuts,… Read more
‘Please, Be Seated!’ chairs, benches to be sold to benefit next year’s installation
BELFAST — Both visitors and residents of Belfast have been treated to the artwork and comfort featured in this year’s public art installation, “Please, Be Seated!” The chairs and benches were created by a wide array of artists in the area who submitted plans to Our Town Belfast – the organization responsible for the display – in hopes of having their designs chosen for display.
“We had more submissions this year than ever before,” said Breanna Pinkham Bebb of Our Town Belfast. “We… Read more
Closed Cases: Waldo County District Court
BELFAST — The following cases were closed in Belfast District Court Aug. 24 – Sept. 6.
Frederick E. Barlow, 57, of Brooks, operating under the influence in Belfast July 19, 12 days in jail, license suspended for 90 days and $700 fine.
Jason E. Batista, 31, of South China, operating while license suspended or revoked in Liberty May 20, $500 fine.
Arthur Carey, 39, of Palermo, keeping an unlicensed dog in Palermo Feb. 1, $50 fine.… Read more
Nearly 100 gather to celebrate the life of Lynn Marie Arsenault
BELFAST — Cars lined the sides of Belfast City Park Sept. 6 as nearly 100 people gathered to celebrate the life of Lynn Marie (Day) Arsenault, 55, who was tragically killed in an Aug. 28 shooting in Belfast. Friends, family, coworkers and other participants held candles as they waited for the ceremony to… Read more
More pomp: Challengers for Belfast mayor’s seat say they’ll bring it
BELFAST - With nominations recently closed, city residents can look forward to the first three-way race for mayor in over a decade — or more dramatically, the first of the millenium.
Two seats on the City Council, meanwhile, will go unchallenged in the November elections, as incumbents Eric Sanders (Ward 3) and Mike Hurley (Ward 4) each seek a third term.
The uncontested Council races may not come as a big surprise. In the last four… Read more
Belfast makes deal with green building company for Business Park lot
BELFAST - The City Council on Tuesday approved a plan to give a lot in the Airport Business Park to a green building entrepreneur in exchange for jobs.
Chris Corson of Northport proposes to develop the 2.6-acre parcel at the end of Little River Drive for use by his company EcoCor, which makes building components for passive house construction — a relatively new industry… Read more
Camden Planning Board walks Fox Hill estate; citizens, lawyers tag along
CAMDEN — The Camden Planning Board spent approximately one hour Sept. 18 touring Fox Hill estate, the proposed site of a Bay View Street alcohol and drug abuse treatment facility. Because the 3 p.m. walk-through constituted a public meeting, citizens were welcome to follow, as were lawyers and town officials; however, the “informational gathering,” as characterized by Camden Town Planner Steve Wilson, intentionally did not accommodate public comment.
That walk will be followed this… Read more
UPDATED: Jaws of Life used to extricate injured driver in Belfast accident
BELFAST — Rescue crews extricated a woman from her car Saturday evening, Aug. 31, following an accident on Route 1 in Belfast. Belfast Police Chief Mike McFadden confirmed Monday, Sept. 2, that the driver has since died from her injuries. The crash involved a bus and a car and occurred at the intersection of Northport Ave. at approximately 6 p.m.
The driver, Jayashree Kalmath, was transported via Belfast Ambulance to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where she died. Initially, a… Read more
Waldo County Sheriff's Office beat: domestic violence, criminal mischief
BELFAST — The Waldo County Sheriff’s Department reported the following activity Aug. 19-23. An arrest or summons does not imply guilt.
Aug. 19
James Hughes, 77, of Monroe, was summonsed for criminal mischief.
Aug. 20
Allison Pooler, 36, of Monroe, was arrested for domestic violence assault.
Aug. 23
Patrick M. Gunn, 20, of Hampden, was summonsed for operating under the influence, driving to endanger,… Read more
Former Belfast elementary school sold at auction
BELFAST - The building that was home to Peirce Elementary School for nearly a century, and most recently was headquarters of the Belfast Academy of Music, sold at an auction, Aug. 28, for $220,000.
The public sale, held by Keenan Auction Company of Portland, drew around 20 attendants. Auctioneer Stefan Keenan declined to disclose how many paid the $10,000 registration deposit required to bid on the property, but said it was fewer than 10.
Two parties placed bids on the property,… Read more
Warren man vies for Walmart shelves
WARREN — Ronald Haney, of Warren, is hopeful his product will be voted into Walmart stores. He markets several types of waxes under the name of Ron's Detail and Wax that are manufactured in Maine through his home-based business. His wax, he said, is superior to others and he is hoping that is what will get him onto the shelves at Walmart. Starting out as a mail order business, his products are now carried by Hamilton Marine and are sold at the Owls Head Transportation Museum. It’s not just… Read more
Unlocking potential of the Rockland-Rockport Route 1 strip
ROCKLAND — The stretch of Route 1 between Rockland and Rockport, now a mix of old homes and big box stores, asphalt, traffic and sidewalks can be a better place to live, shop and travel along — and be a model for other strip developments — if a public-private collaboration that has been under way for several years moves design concepts forward. Several draft designs of that effort will be presented Aug. 29 at a public meeting of … Read more
Belfast Co-op’s annual Customer Appreciation Day another big hit
BELFAST — The Belfast Co-op held its 9th annual Customer Appreciation Day Aug. 17. The event, which blocked High Street from the Co-op to the traffic light, drew many from the Harbor Fest being held just a few streets over. Vendors lined both sides of the streets offering their goods and services.
Some of the samples included different foods and drinks, but there were also free massages to be had by anyone interested. Amongst the freebies, an American Red Cross bus ran a blood drive… Read more
Belfast police beat
BELFAST — The Belfast Police Department reported the following activity Aug. 20-28. An arrest or summons does not imply guilt.
Aug. 20
Ana G. Johnson, 31, of Cranston, R,I., was summonsed for speeding 65 mph in a 45 mph zone on Belmont Avenue.
Gail R. Henningsen, 68, of Morrill, was summonsed for operating an unregistered motor vehicle (less than 150 days).
Elizabeth McDaniel, 27, of Union, was arrested for negotiating a worthless instrument (bad… Read more
Belmont voters approve renewed RSU 20 withdrawal bid
BELMONT - Voters in a special refendum Thursday favored a second attempt to withdraw from Regional School Unit 20 by a tally of 36-15.
The town joins Belfast, where voters approved a new withdrawal bid on Tuesday by a vote of 310-131.
Voters in Northport and Searsmont are slated to vote on the question on Sept. 17, as part of a referendum that will include a validation vote on the 2013-14 RSU 20 budget.
Officials in Morrill have received a petition to hold a referendum on… Read more
Who are the Coca-Cola Chicks?
BELFAST - I followed this van once. It was all red, apart from some detailing along the sides and a sign on the front reading, “Coca-Cola Chicks.”
A branded ride on a whistle stop tour of Coastal Maine wouldn’t have been especially notable by itself. But the word “chicks” suggested some old-school sex appeal marketing.
I imagined the van rolling down Main Street and parking — no, double parking — and the doors opening all at once, then folding outward into an elaborate sound… Read more
Belfast Harbor Fest draws crowds and crafters
BELFAST — The Belfast Harbor Fest kicked off Friday night, Aug. 16, at Steamboat Landing and the evening brought food, drinks and music, including Tough Cats, Whale Oil, When Particles Collide and Ghosts of Paul Revere.
The annual event lasted through the weekend, with Saturday including a bug run, regatta, boat building contest, face painting, relay race and multiple musical groups throughout the day. Sunday brought a cardboard-box boat race followed by a Lobster (or Steak) Regalia… Read more
Winterport woman lucky to be alive after Belfast crash
BELFAST — A Winterport woman, 29-year-old Jennifer Lambeth, and her two children are lucky to have escaped with their lives after a serious accident in Belfast Saturday afternoon. Lambeth was traveling along Back Searsport Road when she reported her vehicle left the roadway onto the shoulder, and according to Belfat Police Detective Bryan Cunningham, she told officers she “over-corrected.”
The wheels of her Chevrolet Avalanche then dug into the side of the road, causing the vehicle to… Read more
Yachts hoist sails, set spinnakers for three-day Penobscot Bay Rendezvous
PENOBSCOT BAY — With horn blasts and a shot from a starting gun, the third annual Penobscot Bay Rendezvous — a regatta of yachts, the boat business and the beauty of the region — kicked off Friday at high noon just outside the Rockland Breakwater. More than 45 sailboats, including the elegant, the high-performance, and the sensible… Read more
RSU 20 board looks to public for direction on twice-stricken budget
BELFAST - “For your information, RSU #20 is currently running on the last budget passed by the voters at the Budget Meeting on July 22, 2013.”
So begins a notice posted recently to the Regional School Unit 20 website followed by a schedule of meetings district officials hope will convince voters to sign off on a budget for the 2013-14 school year.