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May 18, 2013
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Press releases, events, publications released, etc. from Maine environmental organizations and agencies. Submit content.
Maine Environmental News
Announcement - Saturday, May 18, 2013
Thanks for visiting Maine Environmental News, the most comprehensive online source available for links to Maine conservation and natural resource news stories and events. I have posted links to more than 23,000 news articles and announcements. I also post breaking stories and exclusives. Be sure to check not only today's news, but take a look at the headlines from the past several days as well. Articles often come to my attention a few days after they are published. Will Sugg is the website developer. ~ Jym St. Pierre, RESTORE: The North Woods |
Thorne Head Birding, May 25
Event - Posted - Saturday, May 18, 2013
Thorne Head Preserve in Bath, on the Maine Birding Trail, is rich in migrating warblers and vireos.
Meet at CVS, Bath, May 25, 7:15 am to carpool. Sponsored by Merrymeeting Audubon, Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, and Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust. |
Pond Life: Gills, Webbing and Air Bubbles, May 25
Event - Posted - Saturday, May 18, 2013
Families are invited to the museum to dip nets in the pond and go on an exploration of wildlife that lives in the wetlands. See and learn how animals adapt to water. At L.C. Bates Museum, Hinckley, May 25,1 pm. |
10th Annual Down East Spring Birding Festival, May 24-27
Event - Posted - Friday, May 17, 2013
The annual Down East Spring Birding Festival provides a unique birding experience during spring migration and the breeding season with four days of self-guided explorations, guided hikes, boat tours and presentations led by area experts. May 24-27. |
Chimney Swifts, May 24
Event - Posted - Friday, May 17, 2013
Enjoy the spectacle of a hundred or more swifts in migration swirling into their chimney roost before they continue to their breeding locations. Carpool from Brunswick Hannaford, May 24 at 7 pm. Sponsored by Merrymeeting Audubon. |
Birding at Hedgehog Mountain, May 24
Event - Posted - Friday, May 17, 2013
Hedgehog Mountain is a gem owned by the town of Freeport. See migrating songbirds, including warblers, sparrows, grosbeaks, tanagers and more. May 24, 7–9 am. Maine Audubon members $5, non-members $8. |
Scarborough Marsh Full Moon Canoe Tour, May 24 & 25
Event - Posted - Friday, May 17, 2013
Experience the sights and sounds of marsh creatures under the full moon. At Scarborough Marsh, May 24 and May 25, 7:30–9:30 pm. Maine Audubon members $11, non-members $13. |
No Tar Sands Oil in Casco Bay
Action Alert - Thursday, May 16, 2013
This petition asks the South Portland City Council to protect public health, the environment, and property values from the impacts of transporting tar sands oil through South Portland and exporting it from Casco Bay. |
Pennellville Birding, May 22
Event - Posted - Wednesday, May 15, 2013
This easy trail goes through varied habitats, by ponds and ends at a saltwater cove. You will see Bobolinks, woodpeckers, warblers, some nesting songbirds, and hopefully some ducks, eagles, hawks and ospreys. Meet at Brunswick Hannaford, May 22 at 7 am to carpool or at the soccer field on Pennellville Rd in Brunswick at 7:30 am. Sponsored by Merrymeeting Audubon. |
Day Hikes on the Appalachian Trail in Maine, May 22
Event - Posted - Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Aislinn Sarnacki, hiker and outdoors writer for the Bangor Daily News, will speak at a meeting of the Maine Appalachian Trail Club. At Brewer Performing Arts Center, May 22, at 6:30 pm. |
Accessing the Maine Coast
Announcement - Monday, May 13, 2013
In the mid 1970s the Maine State Planning Office completed an inventory of public access ways to the coast in Maine. That information has never been publicized. This website will not tell you where you can legally get to the water, but it contains information to help waterfront users, coastal communities, and land owners address issues related to coastal access cooperatively, possibly reducing the need for litigation. |
Bird Walk at Florida Lake, May 21
Event - Posted - Saturday, May 11, 2013
Florida Lake, owned by the Town of Freeport, includes a lake, surrounding wetlands and forested habitat. May 21, 7–9 am. Maine Audubon members $5, non-members $8. |
Water management class for foresters, May 21
Event - Posted - Saturday, May 11, 2013
Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District, the Maine Forest Service and Kennebec Estuary Land Trust are partnering to offer a free workshop for anyone interested in learning best management practices for water management and protection at small- or largescale timber harvests. At the Bath City Hall auditorium, May 21, 8 am - 1 pm. |
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Thanks for visiting Maine Environmental News, the most comprehensive online source available for links to Maine conservation and natural resource news stories and events. If you are a regular visitor we strongly encourage you to make an annual donation of $35 or more to keep this service going.
Jym St. Pierre, RESTORE: The North Woods, Editor, Maine Environmental News.
Maine Environmental News is provided with free hosting and development by Planet Maine.
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Letter: It's not worth it to ruin Maine's celebrated vista
Morning Sentinel - Saturday, May 18, 2013
I want to convey my support for L.D. 1059 to reverse L.D. 1085, which put leniency in laws regarding open pit-mining and mountain top removal in Maine. If not for tons of money, why else would we even consider stripping this celebrated landscape of its treasure trove of unscarred wilderness? The resources to be dug from the ground will one day run out. What then of our ruined landscape? What then of the displaced wildlife and desecrated idea that Maine is where the wild still lives? ~ It's not worth it. ~ Sarah Linneken, Benton |
Letter: Development questions
Bangor Daily News - Saturday, May 18, 2013
What happened to Plum Creek‘s real estate development plans for the area around Moosehead Lake What happened to what could have been the largest private commercial real estate development project in the history of the state of Maine? Market conservatives and tea party activists are missing what could be a showcase example of their theories of trickle-down economics and fiscal conservatism. ~ Alan M. Church, Brewer |
Letter: Paper or plastic?
Bangor Daily News - Saturday, May 18, 2013
Paper or plastic? Both create major problems. In every square mile of ocean, there are 46,000 pieces of plastic. There are huge gyres in all of the oceans, where currents bring waste plastic into an area where nothing lives. Do we move to paper? Paper production emits 70 percent more pollution than the production of plastic and much more greenhouse gas. It takes four times the energy to make a paper bag as a plastic bag, three times as much water. They create 80 percent more solid waste and, unexpectedly, degrade very slowly in landfill. We need to ban all point-of-sale packaging and move to reusable bags. In addition, all plastic should be biodegradable and recycled. ~ Jim Wellehan, Auburn |
SAM I am not
Al Diamon Maine Media Mutt Blog - Friday, May 17, 2013
There appears to be some upheaval on the board of directors of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine. I use the word “appears” because my only source of information on the resignation of two longtime board members and one recent addition is a blog posting by former SAM executive director George Smith. Smith — who, since becoming a journalist of sorts, has had a contentious relationship with his former employer — doesn’t bother to explain why the three board members called it quits, other than to say one of them didn’t like the organization’s “new direction.” He also doesn’t provide any information on whether the resignations were related. In short, his posting comes off as a thinly veiled attack on SAM’s current administration, with whom Smith has had his differences. |
CMP, governor celebrate power-line upgrade
Sun Journal - Friday, May 17, 2013
Gov. Paul LePage seemed pleased Friday about what the $1.4 billion upgrade to Maine's electrical grid would mean to the local economy. LePage was on hand as Central Maine Power and its parent company, Iberdrola USA, marked the halfway point in its Maine Power Reliability Program. |
Regulators to fishermen: Don't blame catch observers
Associated Press - Friday, May 17, 2013
The top regulators of New England's sagging fishing industry have asked fishermen not to take out their frustrations on the onboard catch observers who monitor what they pull up or throw back. The request came in an open letter to fishing permit holders Thursday, a little over two weeks into a fishing year that saw the fleet take painful cuts in catch limits. Observers have reported increased verbal abuse in recent months and the letter is a reminder that such anger is misdirected, said Rip Cunningham, chair of the New England Fishery Management Council and one of the five signees of the letter. |
Local Foods Movement Ushers in New Era in Maine Agriculture
Maine Public Broadcasting Network - Friday, May 17, 2013
For the last 30 years, the big agriculture story has been the decline of the family farm, and the rise of the biotech giants, such as Monsanto. But early indications from the Cooperative Extension Service show that in New England at least, the small farm is poised to make a big come back. Maine's local foods movement has ushered in a new era for new farms, and new farmers. |
Citizens go on frog patrol in the name of science
Ellsworth American - Friday, May 17, 2013
Sixteen participants trained to be FrogWatch USA coordinators during a special workshop at the SERC Institute May 15-16. FrogWatch USA is a national frog and toad monitoring program of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Volunteers adopt a wetland and listen for calling frogs and toads during evenings in February through August. [video] |
With legal fight far from over, embattled Blue Hill raw milk producer will file for bankruptcy
Bangor Daily News - Friday, May 17, 2013
Dan Brown, the poster child for local food rules in Maine, said he will have to file for bankruptcy if the judge who barred him from selling raw milk and other food doesn’t reverse her decision. The state took Brown to court in 2011 for selling unlabeled raw milk from an unlicensed facility. In late April, Hancock County Superior Court Justice Ann Murray granted the state summary judgment, ruling that Brown had broken the law and issuing an injunction preventing him from selling milk without a license, selling raw milk without labeling it as such, and from “operating a food establishment without a license.” On May 8, Brown filed a motion requesting Murray lift the injunction while his case goes through appeals. He also filed to request she amend or overturn her order. |
Elver fishermen flocking to the Penobscot River
Bangor Daily News - Friday, May 17, 2013
Over the past two weeks, a sizable crew of fishermen have descended upon Bangor and other towns up and down the Penobscot River, chasing a seasonal run of elvers that has slowed in southern parts of the state. “[Some people] are just hostile,” Chris Tibbetts said. “Everybody seems to own a piece of river and everybody wants to hold it.” While Tibbetts said there are plenty of nice people out fishing, there are also some who look for trouble. Add in unlicensed poachers who are looking to make some quick cash, and you’ve got the potential for trouble. |
Column: Birding by ear is a learnable skill
Bangor Daily News - Friday, May 17, 2013
I have six rules for learning how to recognize bird songs. My first rule: The most common birds are the most common. Most of the songs you hear are coming from the same small subset of birds, those birds that are common to wherever you happen to be. Learning the common ones around you makes life much easier because they’re making most of the noise. It doesn’t take long to learn them. Which leads to my second rule: Divide and conquer. Learning new songs is just a process of elimination. ~ Bob Duchesne |
Endangered Ocean Creatures Beyond the Cute and Cuddly
Other - Friday, May 17, 2013
Our oceans are taking a beating from overfishing, pollution, acidification and warming, putting at risk the many creatures who make their home in seawater. But when most people think of struggling ocean species, the first animals that come to mind are probably whales, seals or sea turtles. In fact, of the 94 marine species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), only 45 are marine mammals and sea turtles. What about the remaining 49 that form a myriad of other important parts of the underwater web? The less charismatic members of the list include Atlantic salmon. Damming, pollution and overfishing have pushed the species to a point where they are now only found along a small section of the Maine coast. |
Maine State Parks Passport Program adds Geocaching GeoTour
Maine Government News - Friday, May 17, 2013
Beginning May 18, the Maine State Parks Passport will include a new high-tech Geocaching GeoTour. Geocaching enthusiasts and park patrons interested in learning about this high-tech treasure hunting game that is played throughout the world. Participants will also have the opportunity to win valuable prizes. |
Column: Hysteria obscures lack of substance to climate change claims
Portland Press Herald - Friday, May 17, 2013
We've seen a ton of stories lately about how terrible the (presumed) effects of climate change will be in Maine and elsewhere, so it's worth noting again that these predictions are largely based on computer forecasts, not actual observations. In fact, a May 12 Telegram story on weather changes making Maine forests more "vulnerable" contained the following paragraph: "At this point, the visible impact of climate change in the Maine forest remains mostly subtle and the evidence anecdotal." It's time to stop being scared, and start rebuilding our economy without harmful taxes, rules or fees. ~ M.D. Harmon |
Farmers markets embracing food stamps with the help of USDA
Bangor Daily News - Friday, May 17, 2013
Seventy percent of farmers markets in Maine where growers sell produce, meat and cheese, don’t accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits, the federal food service for low-income people formerly called food stamps. That could change soon. New funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture now makes it easier for individual farmers to accept SNAP transactions, rather than wait for the markets they participate in to lead the way. |
Cape Cod Community To Vote On Status Of Wind Turbines
National Public Radio - Friday, May 17, 2013
Next week, voters in Falmouth, Massachusetts decide whether to spend $14 million to tear down two wind turbines. The Cape Cod town installed these turbines just three years ago in an effort to produce renewable energy and cut costs. Nearby residents says the turbines are a health hazard and that the only cure is to take them down. |
Organic industry clout grows with consumer demand
Associated Press - Friday, May 17, 2013
The organic food industry is gaining clout on Capitol Hill, prompted by rising consumer demand and its entry into traditional farm states. But that isn't going over well with everyone in Congress. Tensions between conventional and organic agriculture boiled over this week during a late-night House Agriculture Committee debate on a sweeping farm bill that has for decades propped up traditional crops and largely ignored organics.
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Letter: Scope of Styrofoam ban questioned
Portland Press Herald - Friday, May 17, 2013
I have heard that the proposed ban on Styrofoam will not have an effect on the seafood companies in Portland that rely on expanded polystyrene. But what's the difference between expanded polystyrene shipping containers and an expanded polystyrene Dunkin' Donuts cup? Will the exemption for shipping containers be written into the citywide ban? ~ Emily Tibbetts, Portland |
Letter: We need strict laws to regulate open-pit mining
Kennebec Journal - Friday, May 17, 2013
If we mine in Maine, let's do it right. L.D. 1302, introduced this session by Rep. Jeff McCabe, D-Skowhegan, would greatly improve the bill passed last year. It would ensure that the new mining rules protect ground and drinking water. It also would make any company wanting to mine minerals in Maine financially responsible for cleanup and reclamation. In Maine, where we rely so heavily on our pristine environment for tourism and recreation, we need strict laws regulating open pit mining. I encourage others to contact their legislators and ask them to vote yes on L.D. 1302. ~ Melanie Lanctot, Readfield |
Maine Environmental Groups Applaud Committee Vote on EPA Administrator
Natural Resources Council of Maine - Thursday, May 16, 2013
Today, a majority of Senators on the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted to send EPA Nominee Gina McCarthy’s nomination to the floor of the Senate. “We are pleased that the full Senate will now get to take up Gina McCarthy’s nomination to head EPA,” said Lisa Pohlmann, executive director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine. “We strongly urge Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King to follow in the long tradition of Maine senators by voting for clean air and publicly endorsing McCarthy’s nomination.” |
Madawaska kids care class picks up litter to celebrate Earth Day
Fiddlehead Focus (St. John Valley, Aroostook County) - Thursday, May 16, 2013
Tom Gerard’s 7th grade physical education class at Madawaska Middle School celebrated Earth Day on April 22 by performing community service. Working as a class to welcome spring and care for their community, they picked up litter that accumulated over the winter and needed to be cleaned. |
Benton festival to be held Saturday in honor of alewives
Morning Sentinel - Thursday, May 16, 2013
Alewives are on pace to set a record run in Benton. On Saturday, Benton residents also will celebrate their relationship with the migratory fish during the second annual Benton Alewife Festival. Benton Selectman Antoine Morin, festival organizer, said this year's run is significant because most of the spawning fish hatched from eggs laid in 2009, when the state restored Benton's traditional harvesting rights. |
Judge grants creator of Clinton trout pond 90 days to resolve dispute with DEP
Bangor Daily News - Thursday, May 16, 2013
The attorney for a Clinton man accused of creating an illegal trout pond said he believes his client and the state can avoid a trial. Richard Lary, 68, was in Waterville District Court on Thursday for his initial appearance regarding a land use citation and complaint from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection stemming from a trout pond he constructed on his property on Hinckley Road in Clinton. |
SAM’s two longest serving board members resign
George Smith BDN Outdoor News Blog - Thursday, May 16, 2013
SAM’s two longest serving board members have resigned. Jim Gorman and Jim Hilly served together for 22 years, longer than any SAM board members in the organization’s history. Gorman, who is LL Bean’s grandson, cited SAM’s transition “in a new direction” for his resignation. At the same time, new board member Amos Eno also resigned. |
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Maine Organic Farmers
and Gardeners Assn
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Island gardens - veggies among the deer and rocks | | By Kaitlin Webber - Island gardens aren't that different from what I'm used to - apart from the layer of seaweed I spread last fall and the mussel shells that inexplicably keep rising to the surface. I'm also not used to having to keep all plants in maximum-security-prison mode. I left the netted gate open late last August and returned to find a vacant brown pit and a few beets with raccoon tooth marks. | | 5/16/2013 11:00:00 PM |
Genetically Modified Democracy: Monsanto and Congress Move to Stomp on Your Rights |  By Ronnie Cummins - Reliable sources in Washington D.C. have informed the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) that Monsanto has begun secretly lobbying its Congressional allies to attach one or more “Monsanto Riders” or amendments to the 2013 Farm Bill that would preempt or prohibit states from requiring labels on genetically engineered (GE) foods. | | 5/16/2013 11:00:00 PM |
Organic industry clout grows with consumer demand | | By Mary Clare Jalonick (AP): Washington - The organic food industry is gaining clout on Capitol Hill, prompted by rising consumer demand and its entry into traditional farm states. But that isn't going over well with everyone in Congress. Tensions between conventional and organic agriculture boiled over this week during a late-night House Agriculture Committee debate on a sweeping farm bill that has for decades propped up traditional crops and largely ignored organics. | | 5/16/2013 11:00:00 PM |
Old Orchard Beach butter maker faces loss of license | | By Jessica Hall - The Old Orchard Beach Town Council on Tuesday will consider revoking the business license of Kate's Homemade Butter, which has operated as a home-based business in the town since 1981. Kate's operates in about 1,000 square feet of space in a garage of an Old Orchard Beach home. The company has been building a 17,600-square-foot facility in Arundel, but that relocation has been slowed by past construction problems. | | 5/16/2013 11:00:00 PM |
Organic Valley ‘planning for a rebuild’ after fire | | By Allison Geyer - Displaced Organic Valley employees gathered outside a makeshift command post at the La Farge Community Temple on Wednesday afternoon, anxious to learn when - and how - they could get back to work. | | 5/15/2013 11:00:00 PM |
Diplomatic cables reveal aggressive GM lobbying by US officials | | By Suzanne Goldenberg - American diplomats lobbied aggressively overseas to promote genetically modified (GM) food crops such as soy beans, an analysis of official cable traffic revealed on Tuesday. The review of more than 900 diplomatic cables by the campaign group Food and Water Watch showed a carefully crafted campaign to break down resistance to GM products in Europe and other countries, and so help promote the bottom line of big American agricultural businesses. | | 5/14/2013 11:00:00 PM |
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Natural Resources Council
of Maine
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A Home Run for Maine Alewives | |
BENTON – Alewives are on pace for a record run in Benton, whose residents will celebrate their rel... | | 5/17/2013 12:00:00 AM |
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