Canicross is catching on in Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 7, 2024

As an official sport, cross country running with your dog, or canicross, has only recently gained traction in the United States. Canicross is a mashup of the words canine and cross-country. It began as a way for sled dogs to train off-season, and over the past few decades, it’s evolved into a stand-alone sport. According to Canicross USA, canicross is a “team sport” with the team consisting of a person and a dog working together. Typically, the person wears a waist belt, while the dog wears a special harness. The two are joined by a bungie-like leash that reduces shock when the dog pulls. It’s a lot like skijoring, a sport in which a dog pulls a person who’s on skis.

Help Wanted: Friends of Baxter State Park Development Director

FRIENDS OF BAXTER STATE PARK • December 6, 2024

Friends of Baxter State Park is hiring a full-time Development Director. This is an outstanding opportunity to join a thriving organization and work on behalf of our beloved Baxter State Park. The Development Director will play a pivotal role in our growing organization, working at all levels to help achieve continued success. Application deadline is December 15, 2024.

Maine adds 3 species to ‘special concern’ list

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 6, 2024

The state added three species of flower flies to its “special concern” list. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Advisory Council approved the designations Wednesday to increase the protection of the hourglass drone fly, the Slosson’s pond fly and the Holarctic bristleside fly to special concern. The advisory council’s action also adjusted its lists to reflect the addition of eight species, including five birds, a bumblebee, a bat and a beetle to the Maine Endangered Species list last year, and eliminated the salt marsh or margined tiger beetle from its special concern list. At last count in 2023, Maine had 57 species on its endangered species list.

Greater Augusta Utilities District shuts down two wells for high PFAS levels

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • December 6, 2024

The Greater Augusta Utilities District shut down two of its drinking water wells last month after testing showed levels of PFAS above the limit allowed by the state. The levels of PFAS, commonly known as forever chemicals because they stay in the environment for hundreds of years, were measured on Nov. 4 at 23.3 parts per trillion – 15% higher than the regulated maximum – at the two Riverside wells. The district was notified of the measurement on Nov. 19 and shut down the wells the same day. Levels had nearly tripled since the previous test in March.

Maine's first accredited lab for PFAS testing is expanding to meet demand

NEWS CENTER MAINE • December 6, 2024

This week, the Biden administration moved to prevent dangerous "forever chemicals" from being released onto the market after a less rigorous review process.  The federal action comes as Maine's first accredited lab to test for PFAS chemicals expands to meet the testing needs of customers in state and beyond. The lab works with researchers at the University of Maine who test crops like corn. Studies show corn takes up the chemicals in the stalk but not the kernels. 

Wilton designates federal funds to replace Wilson Pond retaining wall

SUN JOURNAL • December 6, 2024

The Wilton Select Board on Tuesday designated the town’s remaining $217,908.61 from the federal American Rescue Plan Act for replacing the rock section of the retaining wall at Wilson Pond off Lake Road. The town has put aside $273,778 toward the estimated $813,540 project, which includes other improvements.

USDA orders nationwide testing of milk for bird flu to halt the virus

ASSOCIATED PRESS • December 6, 2024

The U.S. government on Friday ordered testing of the nation’s milk supply for bird flu to better monitor the spread of the virus in dairy cows. Raw or unpasteurized milk from dairy farms and processors nationwide must be tested on request starting Dec. 16, the Agriculture Department said. Officials said the move is aimed at “containing and ultimately eliminating the virus,” known as Type A H5N1, which was detected for the first time in March in U.S. dairy cows. Since then, more than 700 herds have been confirmed to be infected in 15 states. [Editor: In 2022, the Maine Department of Agriculture confirmed hundreds of cases of avian flu in poultry, and scientists blamed avian flu for the deaths of more than 300 seals in Maine. In 2023, the virus was confirmed in both wild ducks and domesticated chickens.]

Maine Audubon's annual loon count numbers are up from last year

MAINE PUBLIC • December 6, 2024

Maine Audubon said its annual loon count numbers are up slightly from last year, at 3,146 adults and 420 chicks. Melissa Kim, a representative from the Maine Audubon, said said an increase in volunteer numbers allowed data gathering at more than 25 extra lakes this year."When you talk to people, they feel very protective and possessive over their loons. You talk to people who live on a lake, they think of them as ours," Kim said.

Letter: Not cheering Donald Trump Jr’s purchase of Maine hunting land

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 6, 2024

There is no reason to cheer Donald Trump Jr.’s purchase of 3,900 acres of prime Maine property purchased from the family of unsuccessful congressional candidate Austin Theriault, who was strongly backed by Donald Trump. A Florida company, which includes connections to a man pardoned by then-President Donald Trump for violating campaign finance laws, was formed to make the purchase. Don Jr.’s worldwide kills include an elephant, an ibex mountain goat, a bear, a buffalo, a crocodile and a leopard. His kill of a rare argali sheep in Mongolia included Secret Service protection at a cost to taxpayers of $76,000, for which he did not have a hunting permit. Maine’s animals belong to us all, not just the rich and influential. I’d rather have trees and nature than a person who apparently finds joy in killing. ~ Charles Mitchell, Belfast

Forecasters predict a mild Maine winter, but storms could still hit the coast

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 6, 2024

Maine is forecast to see moderate temperatures again this winter, but experts say coastal communities should still prepare for intense storms like the ones that devastated the state in January. National Weather Service meteorologist Greg Cornwell said temperatures throughout the southern part of the state and the midcoast this winter will likely be above normal, and the season will be no wetter or drier than usual.

Column: Christmas Bird Count helps identify trends in bird population

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 6, 2024

125 years ago, Frank Chapman, an American ornithologist, proposed the idea of changing a Christmas tradition called “side hunts” from a challenge of seeing who could shoot the most birds to simply counting them. It has since grown to more than 2,300 counts with more than 70,000 participants. The counts are now held between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5. Each count covers an area defined by a circle 15 miles in diameter. It is impossible to count every bird. Each year the effort will change, too – there might be more people participating, or the weather may be terrible. But this is all tracked (reported by the observers) and accounted for. ~ Doug Hitchcox, Maine Audubon

Letter: Kudos to the pioneers of sustainable living

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 6, 2024

I knew a man who used to take his saw into the Maine woods to cut down the dead and dying trees and haul them home to be his wood pile. He minimized the damage to nature, helped the woods thrive and stayed fit. More than 20 years ago, he was one of the first to build a home “off the grid” that was electrified by solar panels. Solar is dependable and the least expensive energy on the planet. Opposition to it has all but disappeared. Kudos to the pioneers of sustainable living, who have given us the confidence to make solar energy doable and climate solutions attainable. ~ Jan Kubiac, Hyannis, Mass.

Column: We might see more raptors and fewer finches in Bangor area birding trip in February

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 6, 2024

On the plus side, Maine has produced a bumper crop of barred owls this year. Unfortunately, some of them are running into bumpers. I’ve heard about a multitude of owl collisions with vehicles this season. I’m guessing it was a big rodent year, and that plentiful food supply allowed owls to raise more young successfully. Actually, I’m not guessing about the rodents. I’m battling a horde of mice invading my garage, looking to set up a winter home. Meanwhile, I’ve never had so many squirrels in my yard as I do this year. The oaks produced massive quantities of acorns again this fall. Evidence suggests more snowy owls will visit Maine this winter. My predictions: more raptors, fewer finches and waxwings. ~ Bob Duchesne

Bangor man rescued from Maine woods brought to Massachusetts hospital with frostbite

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 5, 2024

One of the two men found on a wilderness trail after going missing from Bangor was treated for frostbite in Massachusetts. Constance Hoyt told the Portland Press Herald on Thursday that her husband Sidney Hoyt, 77, was brought to a Boston for frostbite treatment and might need to have toes or part of his foot amputated. Sidney Hoyt and 75-year-old Gary Foster had been last seen Tuesday morning when they left the Maine Veterans’ Homes facility in Bangor for a ride on the Stud Mill Road. On Wednesday evening the owners of a blueberry farm in Township 32 heard shouting and called 911. A game warden who was nearby searching found the men’s vehicle with Foster inside. The warden found Hoyt about a half-mile up a path. Both men were hypothermic.

Maine adopts rules to make companies pay for packaging waste

MAINE PUBLIC • December 5, 2024

After years of deliberations, Maine regulators have authorized a new program intended to make companies pay to get rid of packaging waste. The regulations approved by the Board of Environmental Protection require producers to reimburse towns and cities for the cost of getting rid of paper, cardboard and other materials. Environmental groups said the extended producer responsibility program will reduce local government costs and encourage companies to make less wasteful packaging. Maine was the first state in the U.S. to pass such a producer responsibility law in 2021. That was prompted by a flood of packaging that has overwhelmed municipal solid waste programs, according to Vanessa Berry, Sustainable Maine Program Manager at the Natural Resources Council of Maine.

Maine environmental board advances program to improve package material recycling

MAINE MORNING STAR • December 5, 2024

The Board of Environmental Protection adopted rules for a program intended to decrease waste from excessive packaging and promote recycling, despite continued concerns from the business community. Maine is wrestling with what to do with the amount of waste discarded each year. While Vanessa Berry of the Natural Resources Council of Maine called it a practical solution to increase recycling and shift costs away from taxpayers, some of the corporations who will pick up that tab support its environmental benefits but worry about just how big of a line item it will become for them. The Stewardship Program for Packaging requires producers to pay into a fund based on how much packaging materials they are generating. That fund will be used to reimburse municipalities for recycling and waste costs. 

Column: Delaying climate action will come back to haunt us

CENTRAL MAINE • December 5, 2024

I see little evidence our population has any idea how pressing and dangerous global warming is or how urgent our efforts to arrest and hopefully reverse climate change must be. We must — all of us must — wake up and take personal and societal actions as humans have never done before. World climate is on the brink of rapid and destructive change. Failure to take every possible climate action will force billions living in mid-latitudes to starve, die of heat, or move. We humans have put our world at the brink of disaster in a mere four generations. We have less than one generation to save ourselves. That saving will come with massive employment opportunities and a cleaner world for future generations. ~ Phillip Davis, West Gardiner

Letter: Sen. King, Maine’s nonprofits need your support

CENTRAL MAINE • December 5, 2024

The House of Representatives recently passed a bill (H.R. 9495), also known as the “Kill Nonprofits Bill,” that would give the Trump administration the power to shut down nonprofits unilaterally and without due process. I am disappointed that Sen. Angus King is sponsoring the Senate version of the bill (S. 4136). It is already illegal for nonprofits to support terrorist groups. The mere accusation of support for terrorism would be enough to cripple most charitable organizations that rely on public support. In Maine nonprofits employ one out of every six workers and pay $350 million dollars in income taxes each year while providing essential services. Sen. King should listen to nonprofit professionals in Maine and withdraw his support. ~ Dave Moss, Oakland

Letter: Trump’s reelection raises fears the GOP must now quell

CENTRAL MAINE • December 5, 2024

The reelection of Donald Trump as president raises numerous fears, including that Maine’s two Chinese-owned paper mills will close. And that violent storms like last winter’s that severely damaged the Maine coast and caused inland flooding will become annual disasters thanks to Trumps taxpayer funded subsidies of the oil industry. My challenge to Trump and the Republican controlled Congress is to demonstrate that my fears are unfounded. ~ George Seel, Belgrade

Column: Don’t want green energy jobs? We’ll take them

SUN JOURNAL • December 5, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump has called climate change a “hoax.” And drilling remains his answer for every energy question. Never mind whether Trump or anyone else thinks climate change is real. One thing that is very real is the jobs the IRA is creating. It happens that 60% of these new jobs are in red states. If their Republican representatives don’t want them, no problem. There are plenty of other takers. Trump says he wants to open the environmentally fragile Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. We’ll see. Biden’s various legislative accomplishments have unlocked an estimated $1 trillion for green energy technologies. America is going ahead with the transition. Trump can’t stop it. And to those who want to pass on its economic benefits, go ahead. Others will happily take your place. ~ Froma Harrop