207 Maine

Local opponents worry a proposed refuge would shift the land oversight from Augusta to Washington, and possibly limit recreational activities.

A church that uses a hallucinogen during their services has moved to Maine for a fresh start.

It’s called Pachamama Sanctuary. It’s on 40 acres of land in Casco and serves as a retreat center and church.

“People in the community come here to make a connection with the spirit, with God, higher power, whatever they decide to call it,” said Derek Januszewski, founding pastor of the church.

Januszewski says they just moved their center from New Hampshire to the location in Maine after facing zoning problems with their old building.

Januszewski says the town’s zoning board wanted them to make changes like install different doors, and put in exit signs.

They weren't ready to make changes so the town issued him an injunction forcing them to stop doing ceremonies.

“I had to pay some lawyer fees, around $3,600. If I continued, they were gonna charge me a really big fine,” said Januszewski.

That’s when Januszewski decided it was time to find a new property and create a fresh start.

This new space and new state best suit their needs.

“It was really spirit-led,” Januszewski said. “Once we came here and realized how beautiful this place was and how serene and private and here we are."

He says this church’s practice seems unusual or controversial to some people. That’s because they use ayahuasca tea during ceremonies, which is a hallucinogen.

Members refer to the tea as medicine.

“When consumed it creates a mystical, spiritual experience,” said Januszewski.

He says it allows folks to dive into their past, into their traumas, and grief or shame.

“That energy comes up in ceremonies and we can see it a lot more clearly,” he said.

Some members say Maine is the best place for their practices. They feel connected to nature.

Lane Strahan says this church changed her life.

“I really care about how the medicine will transform your life without the longevity of doctors pills,” said Strahan.

Januszewski hopes Casco will be accepting and understanding of their practices.

PORTLAND (WGME) -- For the second day in a row, mysterious purple vapor is once again billowing from the smoke stack at Ecomaine's waste management facility in Portland.

The purple vapor was spotted on Thursday and again on Friday.

Ecomaine and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection are investigating, but Ecomaine says they believe this was caused from burning trash that contained iodine.

The CDC says if it's inhaled or comes in contact with the eyes or skin, iodine vapor can be an irritant and may cause stomach pain. Long term exposure could lead to insomnia, inflammation of the eyes and nose, bronchitis, tremors, rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, and weight loss.

Ecomaine says employees first noticed the colorful vapor around 9:30 a.m. on Thursday. They soon stopped feeding trash into the burner and say within two and a half hours, they were back to normal operations.

Mysterious purple vapor was coming out of ecomaine's trash to energy waste facility Thursday, leaving many wondering what it was. (WGME)

Ecomaine said on Friday they believe it is still iodine and are taking steps to address it.

Ecomaine says they burn 170,000 tons of trash a year, and in a virtual tour video on their website, Ecomaine says with the exception of car batteries, large appliances, fluorescents or other items they can't or shouldn't burn, Ecomaine burns almost anything that comes into their facility

Ecomaine says this incident should serve as a reminder to make sure your trash is disposed of properly.

Marjorie Perkins, 87, was fast asleep and home alone when she awoke to a male intruder looming over her bed, threatening to attack her.

“He said, ‘I’m going to cut you,’” Perkins, a former elementary school teacher living in Brunswick, Maine, told local outlet the Times Record of the attack last week. “I thought to myself, ‘If he’s going to cut, I’m going to kick.’ So I jumped into my shoes.”

“He grabbed me by the shoulders and pushed me against the wall and so forth,” she told News Center Maine in a separate interview. So she grabbed a nearby chair, she said, “and I kept hitting him.”

“I was hollering for help out the window,” she told the Times Record, adding that no one heard her. “He kept punching me and pushing me,” she said, adding that the intruder punched her in the forehead and bruised it.

Then, he seemingly tired and made for the kitchen, where she offered him a snack. “I kept saying, ‘You need to get out. You need help,’” she told the Times Record. “He said he was awfully hungry and hadn’t had anything to eat for quite a while. And I said, ‘Well, here’s a box of peanut butter and honey crackers. You can have that whole box.’ I gave him two containers of Ensure and I gave him two tangerines.”

While he was eating, she dialed 911 on her rotary phone, she said. The intruder left her home before authorities arrived, but a police dog tracked him down shortly after and took him into custody, she said.

Perkins told the Times Record she recognized the intruder when he mowed her lawn as a young kid 10 years ago, and estimated him to be 17 years old.

“He did a darn good job,” Perkins said of his mowing. “I hope he gets help.”

Brunswick police have not released the attacker’s identity or age. But in an email Wednesday, Brunswick Police Chief Scott Stewart confirmed media reports of the attack, as well as reports that the intruder faces charges for burglary, criminal threatening, assault and consuming liquor as a minor. Perkins told the Times Record that he had a water bottle full of alcohol, a claim The Washington Post could not independently verify.

Perkins told both outlets she believes the intruder entered her home by shifting an air conditioning unit near a window to break in.

But she said she doesn’t want any sympathy.

She told News Center Maine: “Don’t sit and cry about it.”

Magic is in the air in Prospect.

“This is actually a 160, 170-year-old fort from the Civil War era. How do you make kids interested in that? Well, you bring about some wizards, some ghosts, or some superheroes and that’s what we do!” said Dean Martin, executive director, Friends of Fort Knox.

Saturday is Wizarding Day at Fort Knox.

“It’s a one-day event, but it’s going to be a blast,” Martin said. “We’ve had such great remarks afterwards. ‘Oh my gosh, Wizarding Day. Oh, that was so much fun.’ So, it’s a hit.”

Friends of Fort Knox concocted the event during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to keep people coming through the doors.

“We’re able to keep preserving the Fort by holding these events. That’s one of the reasons why we do it. And it fosters a love for the Fort,” Martin explained. “This is a natural backdrop. It looks like a castle. It looks like something out of a movie. And now you’re going to be roaming through it in the middle of the darkness trying to find dragons eggs and wizard robes and such.”

From potions class to wand making, there’s going to be something for every little witch and wizard to get their hands on.

“You got to find the dragon’s egg in the Dragon’s Lair. So, you got to find where that even is, and then when you do there’ll be a special moment when you’ll see the dragons not so happy about you finding the eggs,” he said.

It’s all set up like a scavenger hunt. Everyone will get a card to check off items as they’re found. Cards can be returned for small prize.

Costumes are encouraged, but not required.

“Making your own potion, it’ll actually be drinkable. That’s what I was told,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t know what it does to you.”

The only cost associated with Wizarding Day is the price of admission to Fort Knox; the event itself is free.

The fun starts Saturday at 10:00 a.m.

https://www.fortknoxmaine.com/hours-info

A campaign that supports the Dakin Pool announced some exciting news for the remainder of summer.

Bangor non-profit jump in announced they will cover all entrance fees at the pool from July 31 to Aug. 5.

In addition to the news, on Aug. 1 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 pm, the Darling’s Ice Cream Truck for a Cause will be handing out free frozen treats at the pool for a donation to jump in.

For more information on the Dakin Pool you can follow the City of Bangor Municipal Pools page or follow the Friends of Dakin Pool Facebook page.

The Union Fair and Maine Wild Blueberry festival kicks off on Wednesday.

The fair will run until Sunday.

This is the 152nd fair and the 62nd Wild Blueberry Festival

The fair will be open every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Some highlights include fireworks Wednesday night, the Maine Blueberry Queen Coronation friday, and the Demolition Derby Sunday

For a more detailed schedule and more information, go to unionfair.org.

Lords and ladies will be descending upon Acton for the fourth season of the Maine Renaissance Faire. The two-weekend event opens on Saturday at 10 a.m., with the parking lot set to open an hour before the festivities.

Those festivities include trapeze artists, fire performers, comedians and singers.

"The Maine Renaissance Faire presents shows and spectacles to thrill and enchant. Come witness the excitement of the Joust and Live Steel Combat!" the faire lists on its website.

Once you've enjoyed a show or two, fairgoers can grab a turkey leg at the Swamp Yenkee BBQ or a cup of Ale or Mead for those over 21 at The Daning Donkey Tavern.

Many more options could be found around the faire, including bulgogi bowls, sweets, hand pies and scotch eggs.

A single-day ticket for adults cost $20 , while a single-day children's pass costs $15. The Maine Renaissance Faire also has weekend and season passes.

https://themainerenfaire.com/

The Maine Lobster Festival takes place August 2-6, 2023, at Harbor Park in Rockland, and will once again be offering free admission every day to all visitors.

The Steins & Vines Tasting Event is back for its 8th year, with two sessions on Thursday, Aug. 3 and two sessions Friday, Aug. 4. This event gives visitors the opportunity to taste Maine-made wine, beer and spirits from Maine brewers and vintners. This year there will be six wineries, eight breweries, and four cider companies present. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online. Each ticket includes 12 tastings and a commemorative tasting glass. All participants must be 21 or older.

The Big Parade on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 10 a.m., on Main Street in Rockland will feature Grand Marshals Sharon Lombardo and Bob Oxton, both long-time festival volunteers. Color Guard, bands, floats, The Baltimore Marching Band, Slugger the SeaDog, Pat Patriot, the New England Patriots Cheerleaders, and so much more. This year’s theme is “The Spirit of ‘76” and festival organizers encourage creative interpretation of the theme. Participation is free and there are still slots available for floats, individuals, vehicles, groups and more. Apply online.

The Pirates of the Dark Rose will return to teach Festival visitors all about life as a pirate. There will be weapons demonstrations, cannon fire, pirate ship tours, and more. View the schedule for details.

Live music will be a feature every day at the Festival, with genres spanning rock, blues, jazz, country, swing, reggae, funk, and more.

Registration is open for the 5K & 10K Road Race. Registration is $35 online, $40 on the day of the race. Both races are timed and the first 300 registered receive a T-shirt. All finishers are presented with a finisher medal and awards are presented for top finishers in many age categories. Walkers are welcome for the 5K only.

Rockland Coast Guard Station will be hosting tours of the Coast Guard cutters Abby Burgess, Thunder Bay, and William Chadwick at the Coast Guard pier at 54 Tillson Ave. in Rockland, Aug. 3 and 4, from noon to 4 p.m. Minors must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. No open-toed shoes are allowed.

Other events will be the Art Show and Fine Arts & Craft Tent, the Seafood Cooking Contest, children's events, and the International Great Crate Race. Not to mention the thousands of pounds of fresh Maine lobster cooked in the World's Largest Lobster Cooker. View the full schedule to see all the exciting events the 2023 Maine Lobster Festival has in store.

Five days of fun and feasting on the fabulous coast of Maine, the Maine Lobster Festival attracts thousands of people to the Midcoast region and has a long tradition of giving back to the local community. The 2023 Festival will be held Aug. 2-6. For more information about the Maine Lobster Festival, visit the website at www.mainelobsterfestival.com, “like” it on Facebook, follow it on Twitter at @MELobsterFest, and on Instagram at @mainelobsterfest.

Maine now has the nation’s only Shellfish and Seaweed Aquaculture Apprenticeship and state certified aquaculture pre-apprenticeship programs.

The Aquaculture Pioneers pre-apprenticeship, sponsored by the Maine Aquaculture Association partnering with Educate Maine and Gulf of Maine Research Institute, is directly connected to the Maine Shellfish and Seaweed Aquaculture Apprenticeship program that launched in the spring.

Over a span of one year, apprentices gain industry-specific skills through a combination of on-the-job learning and mentorship, and 144 hours of classroom education at Southern Maine Community College.

Students will get hands-on training in the aquaculture industry by learning safety protocols, shellfish and seaweed production, vessel and vehicle operation, and maintenance of tools and equipment.

You must be 18 or older for the apprenticeship program and at least a high school student to apply for the pre-apprenticeship program.

Applications for both programs are currently full.

https://maineaqua.org/apprenticeship/

The Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative has partnered with local restaurants and nationwide distributors to debut the "Celebrate the Maine Lobster Roll." The dish is part of the collaborative’s "Maine Characters" campaign to celebrate those responsible for keeping the heritage lobster industry alive.

The "Celebrate the Maine Lobster Roll" serves a typical lobster roll alongside custom materials like toothpicks, placemats, sandwich paper, and postcards that feature information about industry stakeholders, along with a QR code to a digital hub to learn more. Every roll sold will help support the fishery that caught the lobster. A portion of the proceeds will also go to the Maine Lobstermen's Community Alliance, an organization that works to ensure the health and sustainability of the fishery for future generations.

"Everyone is familiar with Maine Lobster rolls, but not everyone knows the countless people who've helped them become the summer indulgence we all love," said Marianne LaCroix, executive director of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative, in a statement. "This summer, we're helping diners get to know the people who make this beloved meal possible with our 'Maine Characters' campaign and this special roll that celebrates their hard work and passion."

The "Maine Characters" campaign will spotlight the broad impact the fishery has on the state of Maine and will feature the stories of the individuals behind the industry, including fishermen, processors, dealers, trap builders, and restaurant owners.

The Lobster Roll will be available at the following Maine locations:

• The Boathouse Restaurant in Kennebunkport

• The Clam Shack in Kennebunkport

• Cousins Maine Lobster in Portland

• DiMillo's in Portland

• The Highroller Lobster Co. in Portland

• Island Lobster Company in Portland

• Luke's Lobster in Portland

• Portland Lobster Co. in Portland

• Union River Lobster Pot in Ellsworth

“Maine Lobster is more than a menu item, it's an integral part of the state of Maine, said Brian Langley, owner of the Union River Lobster Pot restaurant in Ellsworth, in a statement. “The fishery supports many businesses like mine, as well as countless families and coastal communities."

The world’s richest known lithium deposit lies deep in the woods of western Maine, in a yawning, sparkling mouth of white and brown rocks that looks like a landslide carved into the side of Plumbago Mountain.

Mary Freeman and her husband Gary found the deposit five years ago while hunting for tourmaline, a striking, multi-colored gemstone found in the region.

The Freemans make their living selling lab supplies through the Florida-based company they founded 40 years ago, Awareness Technology. But their true love is digging for gemstones, which has brought them for years to Mary’s home state of Maine, the site of some of the best tourmaline hunting in the world.

Since 2003, they’ve been buying up property parcels, studying core samples and old geological maps to determine where to try digging next, then spending hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on blasting and equipment. The couple has dug more than a mile of tunnels in pursuit of beautiful stones, and many of their finds—like blue elbaite and rich watermelon tourmaline—have wound up on display at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum in nearby Bethel.

Now, the Freemans want to expand this pit, near the town of Newry, Maine, so they can mine spodumene, crystals that contain the lithium the U.S. needs for the clean energy transition. The timing of their discovery, in what has been named Plumbago North, is remarkable; the Freemans have stumbled across one of the only hard-rock sources of lithium in the U.S. at a time when the material is desperately needed for the clean energy transition. By 2040, the world will need at least 1.1 million metric tons of lithium annually, more than ten times what it currently produces, according to projections by the International Energy Agency. Should the Maine deposit be mined, it could be worth as much as $1.5 billion, a huge windfall for the Freemans and a boon to the Biden Administration’s efforts to jumpstart more domestic mining, processing, and recycling of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements to reduce the U.S.’ dependence on China. This is one of the few lithium deposits in the U.S. currently found in hard rock, which means it is higher-quality and faster to process than lithium mined from brine.

“I consider myself an environmentalist,” says Mary, who on a recent rainy visit to the test quarry, was wearing jeans, a sweater, and hiking boots, her white hair pulled into a low ponytail. Most of the country’s critical minerals are mined elsewhere and processed in China, she adds. “I think [the U.S.] should try to be a little bit more self-sufficient.”

But like just about everywhere in the U.S. where new mines have been proposed, there is strong opposition here. Maine has some of the strictest mining and water quality standards in the country, and prohibits digging for metals in open pits larger than three acres. There have not been any active metal mines in the state for decades, and no company has applied for a permit since a particularly strict law passed in 2017. As more companies begin prospecting in Maine and searching for sizable nickel, copper, and silver deposits, towns are beginning to pass their own bans on industrial mining.

“This is a story that has been played out in Maine for generations,” says Bill Pluecker, a member of the state’s House of Representatives, whose hometown of Warren—a 45-minute drive from the capital city of Augusta—recently voted overwhelmingly in favor of a temporary ban on industrial metal mining after a Canadian company came looking for minerals near a beloved local pond. “We build industries based on the needs of populations not living here and then the bottom drops out, leaving us struggling again to pick up the pieces.”

Mainers often invoke the Callahan Mine in the coastal town of Brooksville as a warning. Tailings from the mine, which operated for several years in the late 1960s, were disposed of in a pile next to a salt marsh and creek. The former mine is now a Superfund site, and a 2013 study by researchers at Dartmouth College found widespread evidence of toxic metals in nearby sediment, water and fish. Cleanup costs, borne by taxpayers, are estimated between $23 million and $45 million.

“Our gold rush mentality regarding oil has fueled the climate crisis,” says State Rep. Margaret O’Neil, who presented a bill last session that would have halted lithium mining for five years while the state worked out rules (the legislation ultimately failed). “As we facilitate our transition away from fossil fuels, we must examine the risks of lithium mining and consider whether the benefits of mining here in Maine justify the harms.”

The Freemans’ point out that they plan to dig for the spodumene, then ship it out of state for processing, so there would be no chemical ponds or tailings piles. They liken the excavation of the minerals to quarrying for granite or limestone, which enjoys a long, rich history in Maine.

Advocates for mining in the U.S. argue that, since the country outsources most of its mining to places with less strict environmental and labor regulations, those harms are currently being born by foreign residents, while putting U.S. manufacturers in the precarious position of depending on faraway sources for the minerals they need. Though there are more than 12,000 active mines in the U.S., the bulk of them are for stone, coal, sand, and gravel.

There is only one operational lithium mine in the U.S., in Nevada, and one operational rare earth element mine, in Mountain Pass, Calif., meaning that the U.S. is dependent on other countries for the materials essential for clean energy technologies like batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels. Even after they’re mined, those materials currently have to be shipped to China for processing since the U.S. does not have any processing facilities.

“If we’re talking about critical metals and materials, we’re so far behind that it’s crazy,” says Corby Anderson, a professor at the Colorado School of Mines. “It’s the dichotomy of the current administration—they have incentives for electric vehicles and all these things, but they need materials like graphite, manganese, nickel, cobalt, lithium, and copper. The only one we mine and refine in this country is copper.”

The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the problems of faraway supply chains; as U.S. consumers shopped online in their homes, the goods they bought, mostly from Asia, experienced lengthy delays at clogged ports. What’s more, diplomatic tensions with China motivated the U.S. government to seek other potential sources for mining, material processing, and recycling.

That’s why, in the pandemic’s aftermath, the Biden Administration launched an initiative to secure a Made in America supply chain for critical minerals. It included billions in funding for companies trying to mine and process critical minerals domestically.

The rocks in Plumbago North would seem to help provide a domestic supply chain for critical minerals; they are thought to be among the largest specimens of spodumene ever found, with crystals of such high quality that in addition to batteries, they could be used to make scientific glassware or computer screens, where the lithium metal would help lower the melting temperature.

The Freemans are just two of the hundreds of people prospecting for critical materials across the country as the U.S. tries to strengthen the domestic supply chain. According to an analysis by Patrick Donnelly, the Great Basin Director for the Center for Biological Diversity, a nonprofit environmental organization, more than 100 companies have staked claims for lithium deposits in the American West. Companies also have applied for permits to mine cobalt in Idaho, nickel and copper in Minnesota, and lithium in North Carolina.

Geologists say there’s also likely a lot more lithium in spodumene deposits across New England. Communities that haven’t had working mines in years may soon find themselves a key source for lithium and other minerals needed for car batteries, solar panels, and many of the objects people will need more of to transition themselves off polluting fossil fuels.

There are good reasons for U.S. communities to have healthy skepticism about mining projects; there is no shortage of examples of a company coming into a community, mining until doing so becomes too expensive, then leaving a polluted site for someone else to clean up. There are more than 50,000 abandoned mines in the western United States alone, 80% of which still need to be remediated. Passage of landmark environmental laws like the Clean Air Act of 1970 and the Clean Water Act of 1972 hasn’t made mining safe enough, environmentalists say.

“All mines pollute in one way or another, and mines are really bad at predicting how much they’re going to pollute,” says Jan Morrill, who studies mining at the environmental group Earthworks, which recently found that 76% of mining companies in the U.S. polluted groundwater after saying they wouldn’t.

One of the most problematic parts of mines is the tailings, or waste, Morrill says: Companies extract the minerals they need, then are left with a giant pile of rock, liquid, and chemicals that they store in ponds or behind dams that sometimes prove unstable. These tailings have caused landslides, excessive dust, and water pollution; more than 300 mine tailing dams have failed worldwide over the last century, according to Christopher Sergeant, a research scientist at the University of Montana.

It is not uncommon for tailings to leak into water, in fact, there is a permit that mine owners can get in case they find their projections were wrong and they need to discharge into U.S. waters.

Even “modern mines” that adhere to the latest U.S. standards—which are among the strictest in the world—still pollute, Earthworks has found. Though there are, theoretically, non-polluting ways to store mine tailings, doing so is much more expensive and mine operators have largely not paid to do so, Morrill says. That’s because, says Aimee Boulanger, executive director of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance, “laws and markets have not fully incentivized companies to do that.”

Indeed, the Biden initiative to increase domestic mining includes, for example, a $700 million loan for Ioneer, a company planning a lithium mine on Rhyolite Ridge in Nevada, where environmental groups say the mine, as proposed, would cause the extinction of an endangered species called Tiehm’s buckwheat. The Administration is also spending $115 million to help Talon Nickel build a battery minerals processing facility in North Dakota, but the potential mine they would source from, in Minnesota, is opposed by Indigenous groups and environmentalists who fear it could contaminate wells in the area.

Still, the U.S. has a more rigorous regulatory environment than many other countries, she says, and there are domestic mines that even some environmentalists support, like the Stillwater Mine in Montana. Community organizations there signed a Good Neighbor Agreement in 2000 with the Sibanye-Stillwater Mining Company allowing the firm to extract platinum and palladium—while also establishing clear and enforceable water standards, restrictions to minimize local traffic, and third-party auditors to ensure the mine adheres to the standards it set out. The mine is now one of the top employers and private-sector income generators in Montana.

But advocates had to force the Agreement; three grassroots organizations sued to stop the construction of the mine, and after a year of negotiations, the mining company and grassroots groups agreed to the contract instead of going to court. With support from elected officials trying to find ways to mine more critical minerals in the U.S., companies may not feel the need to make similar promises to the local community.

The Freemans say their mine would not pollute the surrounding land and water, as the chemical composition of the crystals and the rocks around them is such that they would not dissolve into dangerous acid when exposed to air and water. Geologists that TIME/Maine Monitor spoke with agree with that assessment. Further, the crystals, says Mary, would be shipped out of state in large chunks for processing, so there would be no chemical ponds or tailings.

Many geologists agree that the Freemans’ proposal would not be as disruptive as other proposed mines across the country. Other metals (like nickel, silver, and zinc) typically occur in bands of rock deep below the surface that contain iron sulfides, which create sulfuric acid when exposed to air and water, polluting waterways for decades, a phenomenon known as acid mine drainage. Some spodumene crystals at Plumbago North, by contrast, have been naturally exposed to air and water for hundreds of millions of years and not broken down.

On a visit to the test quarry this spring, Gary Freeman pointed out one large piece of spodumene lying at the bottom of a nearby brook, the water over it rushing fast and clear, not the rusty orange of an acid-contaminated stream. (The waterway is known, fittingly, as Spodumene Brook.) “The water is so good Poland Spring wants to bottle it and sell it,” says Mary.

Still, Morrill, of Earthworks, says there’s just not enough research about the effects of hard rock spodumene mining to say for sure that the mine wouldn’t harm the environment. Since so many people in Maine depend on recreation and tourism for their livelihoods, she says, it makes the most sense to keep protective regulations in place.

Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection has rejected the Freemans’ request to consider the land a quarry, and is instead classifying spodumene as a metallic mineral. As the law stands, the Freemans will have to apply for permits under Maine’s 2017 Metallic Mineral Mining Act, a costly process (the application processing fee alone is $500,000) that would take years.

Meanwhile, the local community is divided. After all, in Maine it’s not difficult to find people still living with the long-term damage of older mines. On the other hand, many Mainers are pragmatic and understand the state has long, dark winters, and will need battery storage for any renewable energy it generates on sunny or windy days. The alternative is to continue relying on fossil fuels, which would exacerbate climate change.

Myles Felch, curator at the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, is one of these practical Mainers. He was raised in Union, where a groundswell of opposition has formed to resist a proposal by Canada-based Exiro Minerals to look for nickel near a beloved local pond. Felch isn’t thrilled with the prospect, but also knows we can’t continue to be so detached from the minerals we use in our daily life.

“I love the place where I grew up and I wouldn’t want anything to ever happen to it,” says Felch. But “you need mineral resources. Most people were probably texting ‘stop the mine’ with a nickel cobalt battery in their phones.”

The Maine Department of Marine Resources issued a shark message Friday afternoon, July 14, given the increased activity of humans paddling, swimming and surfing along the coastline.

“While relative risk of a shark attack is very small, risks should always be minimized whenever possible in any activity on the water,” the release said. “The chances of having an interaction with a shark can be reduced if you follow this advice:

If you choose to swim, surf, or paddle, be aware of your surroundings
Stay close to shore
Swim, paddle, and surf in groups
Avoid areas where there are seals or schooling fish
Avoid murky, or low visibility water
Avoid shiny jewelry when in or on the water
Limit splashing
Avoid swimming at dawn/dusk when lighting is low
Adhere to all signage at beaches and follow lifeguard instructions

https://www.maine.gov/dmr/science/fisheries-monitoring-assessment/white-shark-research

A church that hosted ayahuasca ceremonies in Canterbury is reopening in Maine, after facing regulatory pressure from local officials in New Hampshire.

Pachamama Sanctuary, led by Pastor Derek Januszewski, began hosting multi-day ceremonies at a rented residential property in Canterbury in 2019. During those sessions, visitors would drink a small amount of ayahuasca, which is made from plants native to South America, where indigenous tribes have used it for centuries during healing ceremonies.

The town eventually issued a cease and desist order against Januszewski last summer, though, after he failed to provide proper documentation for the facility’s smoke alarms and septic systems, as well as snow removal plans in case of an emergency.

Late last year, Januszewski temporarily shuttered the church while he scouted a new location. Initially, he said he hoped to reopen in New Hampshire. But Pachamama recently announced its new 40-acre facility will be located 30 minutes outside of Portland, Maine. Januszewski declined to release the exact location but described it as an “outstanding property.”

“We tried in New Hampshire and kept having challenges with the suitable properties and this one came available and it just flowed perfectly,” he told NHPR. “It wasn't our intention to move to Maine, but that's what the universe had in store for us!”

After Januszewski shuttered the Canterbury location, he faced criticism from some who alleged he misused church money. Januszewski acknowledged that he communicated poorly with guests, but he denied he mishandled any funds and pledged to offer those who had placed deposits an opportunity to visit the church when it opened its new location.

Pachamama’s website advertises four weekend ayahuasca sessions in August and September at its new location. The suggested “donation” is $888.

Ayahuasca exists in a legal gray zone in the United States. Indigenous tribes in the Amazon have used it for centuries to potentially heal physical or mental distress. In recent decades, it’s gained popularity among Americans eager to experience the tea’s hallucinatory effects. Some people have also turned to ayahuasca as an attempted remedy for substance misuse disorder, though researchers say there is not enough evidence to confirm its effectiveness. The drug can also pose a risk to people with certain health conditions.

In 2006, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the government could not stop a New Mexico church from offering the substance to its congregants. However, ayahuasca’s active ingredient, dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, remains a controlled substance under federal law, and thus illegal to consume.

Maine Audubon's Nick Lund helps us get to know the common loon ahead of this year's "loon count."

Common loons are common to Mainers but not really to the rest of the U.S., aside from Alaska.

Lund says the bird is unique to see with its distinctive red eyes and a speckled black and white back.

The loon is built to dive into Maine lakes, with its legs set to the back of its body and its bones completely dense (unlike ducks and most other birds with hollow bones).

Lund says this coming weekend, July 15, Mainers from all around the state will take to boats for the 40th Annual Loon Count. Lund says it's a way to keep track of the population as loons continue to live in Maine. He is happy to report the loon population in southern Maine has doubled since they started counting 40 years ago. He believes protection efforts by Mainers is the biggest contributor.

One of those recent protections was the phasing out of painted lead fishing lures. Lund says loons swallow stones on the lake's floor to help grind up fish bones in their stomachs. Lund says many loons have succumbed to lead poising in recent years after accidentally ingesting this type of tackle.

Lund says loons are not built to travel very far on land, so in recent years, Maine Audubon has deployed floating platforms to help make it convenient for the loons to nest.

If you hear the eerie, beautiful call on one of the thousands of lakes in Maine, Lund says the loon is checking to see who else is on the lake.

What’s old is new again when it comes to the Maine state flag.

A retro design inspired by the original version is popping up everywhere -- from homes to hats, and soon, license plates.

TV5 visited a factory in Skowhegan that’s proudly turning the clock back to 1901.

Maine Stitching Specialties in Skowhegan manufactures a wide variety of items, none more recognizable than the American flag.

“This factory has made American flags for over 30 years. It’s a small business. It’s not a huge business, but we really take a lot of pride in that,” said Julie Swain, CEO, Maine Stitching Specialties & 1901 Maine Flag.

About six years ago, owners Bill and Julie Swain decided to add another product: a 1901 original Maine flag. Turns out, they were on to something.

“It’s actually a really fun business! We sell different products such as hats, trucker hats and whatnot. And we can’t keep them in stock. They’re awesome. People love them,” Julie said.

1901 Maine Flag isn’t the only business going retro, but Swain says what sets them apart is their attention to detail.

“I love this image! I love this tree because to me, it looks like a pine tree. It has the brown roots. It has the green limbs that actually look like pine limbs, pine bows,” she said.

Swain hopes Maine’s elected officials are paying attention to those details, too.

In 2025, Maine plans to begin issuing new license plates with a design inspired by the original flag. Drivers will have the option to choose a plain version instead.

“If I were to say anything to the people in charge, I would ask them please stay true to the original flag. Look at that design and come up with a tree that looks like that and that really represents Maine,” Swain said.

Then there’s the topic of the official state flag. Maine voters may soon get to decide whether to keep the current design or restore the original version.

Swain says she sees both sides of the debate.

“What’s neat about it is it’s part of our history, so I think it’s a win-win. Even if we don’t have it as our current flag, it’s such a great part of our history that it’s nice to wear it and represent Maine,” she said.

A range of conditions need to be met for the northern lights to be visible for those across the Seacoast and southern Maine this week. According to Gianforte, that includes clear skies and a lack of city or street lights as well as viewing from positions of higher elevation.

Weather conditions are not looking favorable as of this writing on Monday.

“If it’s cloudy, you’re not going to see anything. If it’s raining, don’t bother getting up,” Gianforte stated. “If it’s clear or a slight haze, you may be able to see something.”

The National Weather Service in Gray, Maine on Monday was projecting 75% cloud cover across the Seacoast and southern Maine on Thursday, in addition to scattered thunderstorms, said meteorologist Jon Palmer.

“Looks like the probabilities are slightly less along the immediate coast but there definitely is a decent chance for some thunderstorms Thursday night,” Palmer said.

If inclement weather holds off, the phenomenon could potentially be seen in the Seacoast and southern Maine and other areas in lower latitudes that aren’t prone to such spectacles, with shades of blue, green, purple and red light dancing in the sky.

“If we do get a clear patch of sky, and it hits us after 8 p.m. or 9 p.m., and if we look to the north, you could see something,” Gianforte added. “There’s a lot of things that have to happen just right for us to see the Northern Lights on Thursday night.”

There is a chance, he added, the particles from the coronal mass ejection could arrive in the daytime this week, meaning the aurora wouldn’t be visible.

“We kind of have to be a little bit careful not to build things up too much because no one really knows how fast the particles that are involved in the cause of the aurora are traveling from the sun,” Gianforte said. “It all depends on how fast these energetic particles move.”

Red Snappers are a fan favorite in Maine. Simone's Hot Dog Stand has been in business for more than 100 years serving visitors and locals the distinctively colored hot dog. As producers of "red snappers", W.A. Bean & Sons takes us behind the scenes to see how the Maine delicacy is made.

https://www.facebook.com/Simones-Hot-Dog-Stand-575030889173706/

https://www.beansmeats.com

The Axe Women Loggers of Maine will be hosting a logger’s demo event at Aubuchon Hardware in Newport on Saturday.

Shows will be at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.

The world champion athletes will be chopping, sawing, and axe throwing.

“I think it’s an amazing display of athleticism. They’re obviously passionate about it to be able to do this,” said Andrew Cayer of Aubuchon Hardware.

“It’s fun. It keeps you in shape. All the ladies are super professional in the sport and in their careers as well,” said Alissa Wetherbee of Axe Women Loggers of Maine. “We have doctors, lawyers, veterinarians, scientists, and law enforcement. The ladies are incredible role models. We love it when people bring their kids to the shows, especially when little girls come to the shows and get autographs.”

There will also be food and a drawing to win a new chainsaw.

You can learn more about the Axe Women Loggers of Maine here.

Watch for us later today on WABI TV5 !!! Alyssa Thurlow came out to Aubuchon Hardware yesterday to race hotsaws with us!!! So fun!!! And... we met their Aubuchon Hardware cat!!! ❤️

http://axewomen.com/index.html

https://www.facebook.com/axewomen

On the side of Route 1 in Columbia Falls in Down East Maine, you can now find what might be the world’s largest lobster trap.

WVII reports Jim Emerson and his son worked with their team at the Friendship Trap Company where they usually build standard wire traps to make the giant version.

The trap is reportedly 15 foot by 6 foot by 45 inches.

"We just thought it would be neat. Something for people to stop and take pictures with and just to say we have the world’s largest lobster trap,” Emerson said.

According to WVII, they plan to take the trap to the Eastport and Machias Fourth of July parades and encourage anybody to stop by to check out what they say is history in the making.

It's the 1st week of July and chances are the kids are bored from being out of school. If you're looking for some family-friendly, fun and free events this week, we have these listings for you!

Monday July 3

Bar Harbor Town Band - Will perform at the Village Green from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will take place at the First Congregational Church

Tuesday July 4

Parade and Activities in Bar Harbor with Fireworks. - Click Here for the Activities and Times
Bar Harbor Town Band - Will perform at the Village Green from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will take place at the First Congregational Church

Wednesday July 5

Southwest Harbor Public Library - Baby Story Time 10 a.m.-10:30 a.m.  Join Amanda for stories, songs, rhymes, books, bubbles, and more outside in our children's garden. If there is inclement weather, storytime will be held inside the library in the Holmes room. Baby Storytime is designed especially for babies under two years, but we are family friendly and we welcome siblings.
Ellsworth Concert Band -The concert take place at the gazebo in Harbor Park. The Band practices at 6 p.m. on Wednesday night, followed by the concert beginning at 7 p.m.

Thursday July 6

Ellsworth Public Library - Story Time  - For children aged 2 through 5 and their parents or caregivers featuring stories, songs, fingerplays, rhymes, and crafts 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. For more information contact Keli at [email protected] or call (207) 667-6363
Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor - Summer Reading "Bee an Inventor" with Skip LaPlante and Allison Kiger 10:30 a.m.
Bar Harbor Town Band - Will perform at the Village Green from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will take place at the First Congregational Church
Ellsworth Movies by Moonlight - Shown at Knowlton Park at sunset (8:21 p.m. ) The movie Lightyear will be shown.

Friday July 7

Southwest Harbor Public Library - Family Story Time 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Join Ms. Chrissy for stories, songs, rhymes, books, bubbles, and more outside in our children's garden. If there is inclement weather, storytime will be held inside the library in the Holmes room
Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor - Preschool Story and Play 10:30 a.m.
Ellsworth Waterfront Concert Series - Ivey Menzietti will be performing at the Gazebo in Ellsworth's Harbor Park at 6 p.m.

Saturday July 8

Ellsworth Public Library - Join Miss Renee for a STEAM inspired activity in the Makerspace 10 a.m. - 12 Noon This will be a drop-in program geared towards children ages 6 to 12.
Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor - Children's Author Visit : Alexandra Hinrichs 10:30 a.m.

Mainers looking to celebrate the Fourth by taking in a fireworks display have plenty of options. Here is a list of 10 fireworks displays occuring throughout Maine.

Portland — The city will be presenting its annual display at 9:15 p.m. on the Eastern Promenade, with a rain date of July 5. Food trucks will be available in the area, but city officials noted that there will also be good view from the East End Beach, Fort Allen Park, Amethyst Park, Baxter Boulevard, Payson Park, Martin’s Point on Veranda Street and in South Portland at Bug Light Park.

Bangor — Fireworks over the Penobscot River are scheduled for 9:30 p.m. The event website does not specify ideal viewing locations, but states, “Fireworks are being lit from a central location and can be viewed as far as Brewer.”

Lewiston/Auburn — Fireworks scheduled for along the Androscoggin River at 9:30 p.m. (rain date July 5), as part of both cities’ joint day-long Liberty Festival. No specific locations are given for viewing the fireworks, but the festival begins at 5 p.m. at Veterans Park in Lewiston and Great Falls Plaza in Auburn.

Augusta — Fireworks scheduled for the end of a day-long celebration at 9 p.m. Mill Park is suggested as the best viewing area.

Bath — The city is ending its annual Heritage Days celebration with fireworks scheduled for 9:15 p.m.

Eastport — Billed as “Maine’s largest 4th of July celebration,” the fireworks display caps the festival that began on Friday, June 30. The display is scheduled for dusk on the town’s waterfront.

Bar Harbor — The town is scheduling fireworks for approximately 9:15 p.m., indicating only that they will be on display over Frenchman Bay.

Greenville — The town’s annual fireworks display will launch from Jack’s Air Service Barge in the East Cove of Moosehead Lake, starting at dusk.

York — York’s fireworks start at dusk, approximately 9 p.m. The York Region Chamber of Commerce suggests Short Sands Beach, and recommends getting there early.

Searsport — Fireworks are scheduled for after dark. They will be shot from a barge in Penobscot Bay, and officials recommend viewing from Mosman Park.