Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Quote of the Day

“We need more nobodies to speak up.”

— Jessica Fischer, a graduate of the Aroostook Agency on Aging’s third civic academy in Presque Isle, where older people learn to advocate for themselves and for changes in their communities. During one session, Fischer, a homeschooling mother of four, described herself as a “nobody,” referring to her unease when approaching more experienced people.

Today’s Top Maine Stories

A former spy’s $1.9 million Maine island home is for sale. Listing agent William Milliken said the unique, polygonal structure reflects the “amazing mind” of its architect, the former spy.

Bangor is bringing a beat cop back to downtown. The walking beat was revived by the city in response to people using substances, having mental health crises and loitering downtown.

Bangor has set a deadline for Airbnb owners to get a license from the city. Officials created the rule last October to keep short-term rentals from overwhelming the city’s already tight housing market.

Rockland may do a geological survey of a coastal area hit by a landslide in 1996. Ongoing erosion has some residents worried about the risk of another landslide.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland has a new bishop. The Most Rev. James Thomas Ruggieri assumed the top spiritual leadership position for the nearly 300,000 Mainers who identify as Catholics.

Maine in Pictures

More News from Around the State

• Only 1 in 5 Mainers are compliant with federal Real ID law

• What Mainers need to know about applying for a Real ID

• Maine’s health commissioner is stepping down to lead a think tank and teach at Harvard

• Maine’s high court upholds conviction of man who illegally killed 2nd deer

• Bangor’s newest Starbucks prepares for summer opening

• Construction on Bangor senior housing to begin next month

• ‘What do I do?’: Surveillance camera captures fatal shooting of Bangor man

• Pedestrian fatally struck by car in Bangor

• Expect to see police on Brewer’s waterfront in the next few days

• Missing calf found in Bangor

• Aroostook program teaches older people how to speak up for change

• Moorhead Kennedy, MDI man once held hostage in Iran, dies at 93

• Maine judge won’t seal Linda Bean’s will

• Man accused of stealing 2 cop cars wounded in shootout with Maine police

• Maine man killed in Saco crash had suspended license

• Massachusetts man accused of assaulting infant in Maine

Question of the Week

As we await the arrival of friends and relatives coming to visit us in beautiful Maine this summer, we also dread having to face certain parts of the Vacationland experience. There are countless many more things to love about a Maine summer, but we want to know: What’s your least favorite part of a Maine summer? Is it traffic? Bad Massachusetts drivers? Long lines at your favorite restaurant? Overpriced hotel rooms? Too much mayo on your lobster roll? Send us an email at news@bangordailynews.com and let us know what parts of being a tourist destination are a bit much, even for hardy folks like us.

From the Opinion Pages

Life in Maine

From strangely empty street corners to place names, evidence of bygone elm trees is everywhere in Maine. Read about what happened to these iconic symbols of urban pastoralism.

The state’s plant testing lab is no longer free for Maine residents. Testing garlic bulbs for nematodes, rot and fungus is now $38 in state and $68 out of state. The lab cites rising costs.

Maine is home to 11 species of native ferns, but only one is edible. Here’s everything you need to know about those ostrich ferns, also known as fiddleheads.

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