Braeden Waddell
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Articles by Braeden Waddell
Black Bears Archives
Skip to content Posted inOutdoors Contributors “I live in the woods. I feed birds. Sometimes in the spring, I feed bears, though not intentionally,” Bob Duchesne writes.
Aroostook Renewable Gateway Archives
The stakes are high, with Maine’s aging population concerned about electricity rates and the state aiming to meet statutory goals of reducing emissions.
Officials don’t know when damaged Vinalhaven ferry will return
The state doesn’t yet have a timeline for repairs on the ferry that ran aground off the coast of Vinalhaven Thursday, officials said. The incident damaged both of the Capt. Richard G. Spear’s propellers, and left the ferry with a bent starboard rudder. The port rudder is missing entirely, but could be recovered by divers, officials said.
50 years ago, these Maine girls picked up a sport they knew nothing about
When Jayne Giles joined Belfast’s new high school field hockey team in 1973, she and her teammates didn’t have time to worry about the competition or getting the right uniforms. They were just focused on learning how to play the sport. Like most of the other girls who joined the team, Giles, who was a senior, never saw field hockey played before signing up.
50 years ago, these Maine girls picked up a sport they knew nothing about
When Jayne Giles joined Belfast’s new high school field hockey team in 1973, she and her teammates didn’t have time to worry about the competition or getting the right uniforms. They were just focused on learning how to play the sport. Like most of the other girls who joined the team, Giles, who was a senior, never saw field hockey played before signing up.
Belfast to add 6 handicap parking spaces downtown
BELFAST, Maine — City councilors approved six new handicap parking spaces at their Tuesday meeting as part of efforts to address accessibility issues in the downtown area. The new spots include both those recommended by Belfast’s public works department, plus additional spaces identified by councilors. They come in response to a recent push by community members to improve accessibility in downtown Belfast.
Senior college displaced by Belfast learning center closure finds new home
Maine’s second-largest senior college program has found a new home in Belfast in time for courses this fall following the loss of its former offices in the closed University of Maine Hutchinson Center. The college’s new offices will open Sept. 1 at a shared location at 17 Main Street in Belfast, the day that fall course registration begins.
3 dead minke whales found along Maine's coast since end of July Original
(BDN) -- Three minke whales have been found dead in Maine waters over a six-day period in what marine researchers call an unusual spate of deaths. Marine mammal researchers from Allied Whale at the College of the Atlantic, which tracks whale strandings and deaths in Maine, responded to the three reports of carcasses between July 30 and Aug. 4. That’s one more than they’d typically expect in an entire summer, said Rosemary Seton, Allied Whale’s mammal stranding coordinator.
3rd person indicted in Castine crash that killed 4
A third person has been indicted in connection to a December car crash that killed four Maine Maritime students. Noelle Tavares of Massachusetts was indicted Friday by a Hancock County Jury on 13 counts, including four counts of manslaughter and criminal OUI, among other charges. Tavares, who was 20-years-old at the time of the crash, was one of three people who survived the crash.
3rd person indicted in Castine crash that killed 4
A third person has been indicted in connection to a December car crash that killed four Maine Maritime students. Noelle Tavares of Massachusetts was indicted Friday by a Hancock County Jury on 13 counts, including four counts of manslaughter and criminal OUI, among other charges. Tavares, who was 20-years-old at the time of the crash, was one of three people who survived the crash.
3 dead minke whales found along Maine’s coast since end of July
Three minke whales have been found dead in Maine waters over a six-day period in what marine researchers call an unusual spate of deaths. Marine mammal researchers from Allied Whale at the College of the Atlantic, which tracks whale strandings and deaths in Maine, responded to the three reports of carcasses between July 30 and Aug. 4. That’s one more than they’d typically expect in an entire summer, said Rosemary Seton, Allied Whale’s mammal stranding coordinator.
Belfast is getting its first urgent care center
An urgent care facility is coming to Belfast this year. ConvenientMD is adding a location at 20 Belmont Ave., across from Camden National Bank in Belfast near the intersection of routes 1 and 3. It will be the first urgent care center for the city. The new location — the company’s 11th in Maine — is expected to be up and running in December, according to their website. ConvenientMD also has locations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Unity Environmental University campus for sale Original
(BDN) -- Unity Environmental University has officially listed its 225-acre Waldo County campus for sale. A&G Real Estate Partners is representing the property and accepting offers for the Unity campus on behalf of the university. While there isn’t a listed asking price, the 90 Quaker Hill Road campus was assessed by the town at just under $26.8 million in 2022, according to town records.
Midcoast residents rallying against Aroostook renewable power corridor
When the Aroostook Renewable Gateway power corridor was approved by the state legislature earlier this year, many in the midcoast didn’t realize how it would affect towns outside of northern Maine. Now, months later, residents are rallying against the energy project. LS Power began sending letters to midcoast residents last month warning that the project could cut through their land.
Belfast residents want a say in the future of the Hutchinson Center
The University of Maine Hutchinson Center in Belfast officially closed Friday, but locals aren’t ready to give up on the center. Some are now fighting for a seat at the table in discussions about the future of the facility. The center, located on Route 3, has been deeply entwined with Belfast throughout its development, providing educational and professional opportunities to the midcoast for 23 years.
What Maine could do to kill more invasive green crabs Original
Fishermen and marine ecologists have sounded alarm bells about the rapidly expanding green crab population along the coast for years. Although the state recognizes the threat green crabs pose to fisheries, Maine has not implemented a statewide system to monitor the invasive species’ population and range or done much to combat it beyond the local level. Work on the green crab population presently happens at the local level with support from the Department of Marine Resources.
Why it smells bad in Belfast right now
Skip to content If you caught a strong whiff of something stinky in downtown Belfast this week, you’re not alone. Several people have posted on social media about the odor, which has permeated the area from the Belfast Community Co-op on High Street to the skatepark on Washington Street. Belfast Mayor Eric Sanders said there are a few days each summer where the downtown does get hit with a strong smell.
Belfast fire that destroyed events center ruled accidental
Skip to content The early morning fire that leveled the Wentworth Event Center in Belfast on Saturday was unintentionally caused by an electrical issue, according to state officials. The six-day investigation by the state fire marshal’s office concluded the fire was accidental, said Shannon Moss, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety, which oversees the fire marshal’s office. The center, located on Route 1 at 139 Searsport Ave., was a common venue for weddings and other events.
There’s a new 18-foot-long sturgeon in Belfast
Belfast’s newest art fixture is a whopping 34-foot mural on the waterfront featuring an Atlantic sturgeon as its centerpiece. Artist David Hurley had been toying with the idea for a few months at the end of last year but had not decided on a final location. When he took a look at the large, empty space below the deck of the Bayview Point Event CenterFront Street, he figured it would be a great place.
Unity has 6 applicants for vacant admin role already
Unity elected officials say they have received six applications so far for the town’s recently vacated administrative assistant position, but they haven’t closed the posting yet. Selectmen Tony Avila and Tim Parker Jr. talked about the search during the board’s Tuesday night meeting. The update comes a day after the Unity town office was forced to close due to a lack of staff following the resignation of Kari Hunt, the former administrative assistant, on Friday.
Unity’s town office is closed after staff resignations
After recently losing its town administrative assistant and deputy clerk, a midcoast town has closed its town office — at least temporarily. Unity’s former administrative assistant, Kari Hunt, left the role on Friday. Hunt also served as the town clerk, treasurer, tax collector and registrar of voters. Anne Goodblood, who served as the town’s deputy clerk, deputy treasurer and deputy tax collector, left her role at the same time, town officials said.
Wentworth Event Center fire displaces transit hub, catering service
When an early morning fire tore through the Wentworth Event Center in Belfast Saturday, it destroyed the regional public transportation hub run by a local nonprofit and the commercial kitchen of a local catering company. But two days later, both organizations are already rebounding. For the transportation hub run by Waldo Community Action Partners, a nonprofit providing services to low-income households in the region, it was business as usual Monday.
Green crabs are a staple on this Belfast restaurant's menu
As the invasive European green crab has continued to expand and ravage the New England coast for years, marine researchers, ocean conservationists and some fishermen have long suggested getting them on restaurant menus to cull the growing population. But right now, there’s only one Maine restaurant with green crabs on its permanent menu: Must Be Nice Lobster in Belfast.
green crabs Archives
Posted inMidcoast by Creating a commercial market for green crabs could be important for eventually controlling the growth of the invasive population. Posted inHancock by Posted inNews by Posted inNew England by Posted inYork by Posted inHomestead by Posted inHomestead by Posted inNew England, News, Wires by
It’s unlikely the plan to house asylum seekers in Unity will happen
A proposal to house some of Portland’s growing number of asylum seekers at Unity Environmental University’s Quaker Hill campus is unlikely to happen — at least not by August as some officials had hoped. Despite Portland’s self-imposed mid-August deadline to move asylum seekers from the Portland Expo where they have been housed, there are no concrete plans or funding in place and so far, there hasn’t been a meeting between all of the stakeholders impacted by the proposal.
Unity college will offer 2 new degrees to address climate change
Unity Environmental University is starting two new degree programs focused on tackling long-term issues stemming from climate change. The newly announced programs are an agroforestry undergraduate program and a master’s program in climate change adaptation and resilience. The undergraduate degree is focused on agricultural land use and sustainable farming practices that protect crops from more volatile weather events and temperatures year-round.
Camden extends private pier building ban for a 3rd time
The Camden Select Board unanimously approved an extension on a ban on building private piers and docks in the town harbor at their Wednesday night meeting. The 180 day extension marks the third passed by the town government since the moratorium was first enacted in June 2022. The extension is intended to give the town time to develop permanent rules around docks.
Camden Select Board extends private pier building ban for a third time
The Camden Select Board unanimously approved an extension on a ban on building private piers and docks in the town harbor at their Wednesday night meeting. The 180 day extension marks the third passed by the town government since the moratorium was first enacted in June 2022. The extension is intended to give the town time to develop permanent rules around docks.
Belfast stabbing suspect pleads not guilty to attacking homeless man
The first of two people charged with allegedly stabbing and robbing a homeless man in June before leaving him injured and stranded in the Belfast woods pleaded not guilty to multiple charges on Tuesday. Isabella Noui, 19, from Fitchburg, Mass., entered her pleas via Zoom from Two Bridges Jail in a hearing with Justice Robert Murray in Waldo County Superior Court Tuesday morning. Justin Wilmot, 20, is also charged in the incident and is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday afternoon.
Brooklin standoff ends in death by suicide
To reach a suicide prevention hotline, call the new 988 three-digit hotline or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Suicide prevention services can also be reached at 888-568-1112 or 800-273-TALK (8255). A seven-hour standoff between law enforcement and an armed person in Brooklin has ended in death by suicide, according to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.
Maine State Police tactical team, crisis negotiators respond to incident in Brooklin
This story will be updated. The Maine State Police tactical team and crisis negotiators are assisting the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office at an incident in Brooklin, according to Maine State Police spokesperson Shannon Moss. It wasn’t immediately clear what the nature of the incident was or exactly where in Brooklin it’s happening. The sheriff’s office would only say that deputies had responded to a scene in Brooklin Monday morning. It is unclear if there are any injuries. Post navigation
Presidential yacht is looking for a safer Maine harbor during restoration
The owners of the USS Sequoia, the former presidential yacht that arrived in Belfast for a major stem-to-stern restoration nearly four years ago, are looking for a new home for the ship by the end of fall. The goal is to find a more suitable location to protect the USS Sequoia from harsh weather and unpredictable tides, said Michael Cantor, the managing partner of the D.C.-based private equity firm Equator Capital Group, which owns the ship.
Worker injured at GAC Chemical Corporation plant in Searsport
A worker at Searsport’s GAC Chemical Corporation ammonium sulfate plant was injured Thursday after their hand was caught in machinery. Searsport fire and EMS received the call to the facility, located on Kidder Point, at 2:15 p.m. Thursday. The worker was no longer entrapped when emergency services arrived at the scene, said Public Safety Director and Police Chief Brian Lunt, who was a paramedic responding to the call.
Belfast’s new city budget will cost taxpayers less
The Belfast City Council adopted a $13.42 million gross municipal budget on Tuesday that will reduce costs for taxpayers. City Manager Erin Herbig said due to an increase in expected revenue, which is even higher than , Belfast residents will actually see municipal expenses funded through property taxes drop by nearly $700,000. It’s not yet clear how much of a savings that will mean for property taxes, though.
A wedding ring was found on a Maine beach in an unexpected place
One child tourist in Maine found something entirely unexpected while seashell hunting in Stockton Springs over the weekend: a wedding ring in a mussel shell. Scott Russell of New York and his seven-year-old daughter were down by the shore of the Penobscot River about a quarter mile north of Sandy Point Beach during their stay at an Airbnb in Stockton Springs when she ran over to him saying she found something on the beach.
Midcoast Maine has been slow to regulate short-term rentals
Short-term rentals listed through companies like Airbnb and VRBO boomed in Maine over the past few years as people looked to get away from cities and crowds during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that market is continuing to grow in spite of a recent national lull.
Police arrest Morrill man in Belfast VFW trailer theft Original
Belfast Police arrested a man suspected of stealing a trailer full of recyclables intended to fund community events for a local veterans group. Ryan Hast, 35, of Morrill was arrested and charged with felony theft in Belfast Thursday evening following a tip, said Belfast Police Chief Robert Cormier. Police did not disclose the value of the trailer and recyclables stolen. Belfast police began investigating the theft at the Randall Collins VFW Post 3108 on Field Street on Monday.
Camden’s newest food joint will cater to outdoorsy types
Heading to Camden Hills State Park this summer? When you get hungry, there will be a new food shack near the entrance offering healthier fare for those heading for the great outdoors The Trail Magic Snack Shack is expected to open in early August, about a quarter mile from the state park entrance at 251 Belfast Road. The bright yellow and green roadside shack is surrounded by greenery and picnic tables off Route 1. A nearby garage has a “Starry Night” mural on its wall facing the shack.
Unity college won’t house asylum seekers, town officials say
A Unity elected official Tuesday said that the Unity Environmental University won’t allow its former dorms to be used to house asylum seekers. “We have it in writing [Unity Environmental University is] not doing it, they’re not bringing them here,” said Unity Selectman Tim Parker Jr., responding to a question raised during public comment at Tuesday’s selectboard meeting. Rumors have been circulating for months about a potential plan to house asylum seekers at the college dorms.
Belfast may start tracking short-term rentals
Maine has experienced a short-term rental boom since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and one midcoast community wants to know how that’s impacting permanent housing options. The Belfast Planning Board will discuss ordinance amendments at a meeting on Wednesday. The amendments would create a registry of short-term rentals in the city.
Hurling comes to the Belfast waterfront this month
If you’ve ever wanted to invade a field with a hurley in pursuit of a sliotar, you’ll soon have your chance. The game — called hurling and played with a curved stick used to whack a ball through the air — will be among the new additions to the Maine Celtic Celebration when it returns to the Belfast waterfront later this month. Also new this year is Gaelic football, which is like a cross between soccer and American football.
Officials urge caution when swimming after Maine man drowned
After the Saturday drowning death of 46-year-old Hope man, state officials are warning swimmers to take caution in the water due to the recent rain. Henry Brooks drowned Saturday afternoon while trying to rescue his two daughters after they were swept away by a current in Seven Tree Pond in Union. His 27-year-old son was able to get the two girls to shore, but could not locate his father. Brooks’ body was recovered by divers later that evening, according to the Maine Warden Service.
Residents push Belfast to finally become more accessible
When Neva Allen went to Belfast’s 250th anniversary celebration at the city park on July 1, she was expecting a challenge. She uses a powered wheelchair to get around, and finding a way to actually get down to the park and join the festivities was a struggle. First, there are potholes and cracks that make traveling on some sidewalks in Belfast nearly impossible, so Allen often moves to the road.
This is the proposal for transitional housing for asylum seekers in Unity
Since late May, rumors have been circulating about the former Unity College campus becoming transitional housing for asylum seekers. On June 29, a proposal was finally submitted by Portland officials to the state. Since then, more questions have arisen as Portland pushes for a decision and town and college officials wait for a detailed proposal from the state. Here’s what we know about the plan for housing asylum seekers on the Unity Environmental University campus.
Belfast’s dwindling food trucks are facing increasing challenges
More than three years since the COVID-19 pandemic vastly changed the way people think about going out to eat, food truck owners say they are still operating in a turbulent environment. In Belfast, operators say low margins, volatile costs and bad weather are putting a strain on food trucks, jeopardizing business and making some rethink their business model.
Rockland UPS workers practice picketing as deadline for contract nears
Holding signs, marching and chanting call and repeat messages, nearly three dozen workers and union representatives picketed in front of the Rockland UPS distribution center on Thursday. But this, they said, was only a practice as they brace for striking if the union and the company cannot agree on a new contract by the end of July. The picketers included all of the facility’s delivery drivers as well as representatives of Teamsters Local 340, which represents UPS workers in Maine.
Searsport using art walk to bring more people downtown
In the small midcoast town of Searsport, business owners and community leaders are turning to art as the next step in their community-driven effort to revitalize the downtown area. That’s why they’re hosting an art walk Saturday afternoon. The one-off event will span throughout seven businesses and galleries and highlight the debut of two new exhibitions featuring local artists. But locals are really hoping what it will do is bring more people downtown.
Belfast cooperative faces pushback from former board member over $6.4 million renovations
Six months after launching a capital campaign to fund a $6.4 million renovation and expansion project, the Belfast Community Co-op is receiving pushback from a former board member over concerns that the project’s high price tag will ultimately be the death knell for the beloved downtown grocer. The co-op’s leadership denies the allegations. Arguments came to a head recently on social media when former board member Steven Boas launched the Save the Belfast Co-op website.
Camden battle shows how divided Mainers remain over marijuana sales
CAMDEN, Maine — Deciding how to vote on allowing recreational marijuana retailers in downtown Camden was a struggle from the start, Meg Quijano said. Quijano owns The Smiling Cow, a gift shop on Main Street. She’s tapped into the business community here, and most of the people she spoke to planned to vote no. While she did not want a marijuana store opening up right next door, she also didn’t think they needed to be blocked altogether.
Belfast begins consolidating citizen-led committees
Belfast city councilors voted unanimously Tuesday to begin consolidating citizen-led committees as a move to make local government more efficient. The restructuring plan was first brought before the council in March by city staff with a goal of standardizing membership and responsibilities for committee members while also aiming to improve communication between committees, councilors and city staff, officials said.
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