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#mainers — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #mainers, aggregated by home.social.

  1. #JaredGolden isn't running, so he could give a shit about #Mainers (or anyone else)...

    ‘Dangerous and Shameful’: 42 House #Democrats Help #GOP Send #Trump Spying Bill to Senate

    “It was these Democrats’ responsibility to stand up against this administration, and they voted to stand down instead,” said one campaigner.

    Jessica Corbett, Apr 29, 2026

    Excerpt: " 'The 42 Democratic votes to advance Speaker Johnson and Donald Trump’s #surveillance agenda are dangerous and shameful,' she declared.

    " 'These Democrats defied their constituents and common sense to undercut meaningful privacy reforms in the House and instead voted to hand over sweeping spy powers to the Trump administration,' she stressed. 'This means continuing #warrantless backdoor searches and allowing an increasing number of federal agencies to exploit the data broker loophole to supercharge #AI and fuel mass #DomesticSurveillance.' "

    Read more:
    commondreams.org/news/fisa-sec

    #USPol #Fascism #Authoritarianism #Orwellian #FISA #Section702 #SurveillanceState

  2. #JaredGolden isn't running, so he could give a shit about #Mainers (or anyone else)...

    ‘Dangerous and Shameful’: 42 House #Democrats Help #GOP Send #Trump Spying Bill to Senate

    “It was these Democrats’ responsibility to stand up against this administration, and they voted to stand down instead,” said one campaigner.

    Jessica Corbett, Apr 29, 2026

    Excerpt: " 'The 42 Democratic votes to advance Speaker Johnson and Donald Trump’s #surveillance agenda are dangerous and shameful,' she declared.

    " 'These Democrats defied their constituents and common sense to undercut meaningful privacy reforms in the House and instead voted to hand over sweeping spy powers to the Trump administration,' she stressed. 'This means continuing #warrantless backdoor searches and allowing an increasing number of federal agencies to exploit the data broker loophole to supercharge #AI and fuel mass #DomesticSurveillance.' "

    Read more:
    commondreams.org/news/fisa-sec

    #USPol #Fascism #Authoritarianism #Orwellian #FISA #Section702 #SurveillanceState

  3. #JaredGolden isn't running, so he could give a shit about #Mainers (or anyone else)...

    ‘Dangerous and Shameful’: 42 House #Democrats Help #GOP Send #Trump Spying Bill to Senate

    “It was these Democrats’ responsibility to stand up against this administration, and they voted to stand down instead,” said one campaigner.

    Jessica Corbett, Apr 29, 2026

    Excerpt: " 'The 42 Democratic votes to advance Speaker Johnson and Donald Trump’s #surveillance agenda are dangerous and shameful,' she declared.

    " 'These Democrats defied their constituents and common sense to undercut meaningful privacy reforms in the House and instead voted to hand over sweeping spy powers to the Trump administration,' she stressed. 'This means continuing #warrantless backdoor searches and allowing an increasing number of federal agencies to exploit the data broker loophole to supercharge #AI and fuel mass #DomesticSurveillance.' "

    Read more:
    commondreams.org/news/fisa-sec

    #USPol #Fascism #Authoritarianism #Orwellian #FISA #Section702 #SurveillanceState

  4. #JaredGolden isn't running, so he could give a shit about #Mainers (or anyone else)...

    ‘Dangerous and Shameful’: 42 House #Democrats Help #GOP Send #Trump Spying Bill to Senate

    “It was these Democrats’ responsibility to stand up against this administration, and they voted to stand down instead,” said one campaigner.

    Jessica Corbett, Apr 29, 2026

    Excerpt: " 'The 42 Democratic votes to advance Speaker Johnson and Donald Trump’s #surveillance agenda are dangerous and shameful,' she declared.

    " 'These Democrats defied their constituents and common sense to undercut meaningful privacy reforms in the House and instead voted to hand over sweeping spy powers to the Trump administration,' she stressed. 'This means continuing #warrantless backdoor searches and allowing an increasing number of federal agencies to exploit the data broker loophole to supercharge #AI and fuel mass #DomesticSurveillance.' "

    Read more:
    commondreams.org/news/fisa-sec

    #USPol #Fascism #Authoritarianism #Orwellian #FISA #Section702 #SurveillanceState

  5. #JaredGolden isn't running, so he could give a shit about #Mainers (or anyone else)...

    ‘Dangerous and Shameful’: 42 House #Democrats Help #GOP Send #Trump Spying Bill to Senate

    “It was these Democrats’ responsibility to stand up against this administration, and they voted to stand down instead,” said one campaigner.

    Jessica Corbett, Apr 29, 2026

    Excerpt: " 'The 42 Democratic votes to advance Speaker Johnson and Donald Trump’s #surveillance agenda are dangerous and shameful,' she declared.

    " 'These Democrats defied their constituents and common sense to undercut meaningful privacy reforms in the House and instead voted to hand over sweeping spy powers to the Trump administration,' she stressed. 'This means continuing #warrantless backdoor searches and allowing an increasing number of federal agencies to exploit the data broker loophole to supercharge #AI and fuel mass #DomesticSurveillance.' "

    Read more:
    commondreams.org/news/fisa-sec

    #USPol #Fascism #Authoritarianism #Orwellian #FISA #Section702 #SurveillanceState

  6. @MusiqueNow #JanetMills doesn't give a crap about #Mainers! And now she has quit the race. Good riddance!

    #MainePol

  7. So, these #rainbarrels are a bit pricey (apparently there are bulk discounts though). However, I own two of the terracotta-colored ones, and they have held up during #Maine weather (where it can be warm and rainy one day, freezing the next). Obviously, they should be drained and stored for the winter, but when that doesn't happen, the material seems to be forgiving (unlike the beige rainbarrels -- which are made from lighter plastic)...

    This program is not just for #Mainers!

    Upcycle Rain Barrels and #Composters

    Providing Eco-Friendly Products for More Than 20 Years

    2026 MAINE WATER COMPANY RAIN BARREL EVENT

    ALL ORDERS WILL BE DELIVERED 10 - 15 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF ORDER.

    *** BARREL PRICES INCLUDES DELIVERY VIA FEDEX/UPS DIRECTLY TO YOUR HOME OR OFFICE ***

    upcycle-products.com/me/mwc/

    #SolarPunkSunday #RainbarrelProgram #Composter #HarvestingRainwater #WaterCollection #HomeComposting

  8. #MDACF - What #Mainers are Asking About #JumpingWorms

    February 25, 2026

    'Following a recent two-day jumping worm workshop hosted by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF), it is clear that jumping worms are a top concern for #Maine #gardeners and land managers. This event brought together a knowledgeable lineup of leading researchers from across North America to share the latest science and management strategies.

    While the first established populations in the state were discovered as recently as 2014, these invasive pests are now considered widespread and have been confirmed in 13 of Maine's 16 counties. With hundreds of questions submitted by workshop registrants, several key themes emerged regarding how to identify, manage, and prevent the spread of these invasive worms.

    Identification: "Is this a jumping worm?"

    Many Mainers are concerned about distinguishing jumping worms from other species of earthworms.

    - Monitor with a Mustard Drench: To see if jumping worms are present at your location, mix 1/3 cup of ground mustard with a gallon of water and pour it directly on the soil (in a forested setting, brush away leaf litter first); this irritates the worms and brings them to the surface for identification.
    - The Timing: Because they are annuals (having a lifespan of only one year), juveniles appear in May and June and are very small and hard to identify. It is best to wait until late July or August to confirm their identity once they develop their distinctive collar.
    - The Look: Look for a milky white or gray collar (clitellum) that is smooth, flat, and completely encircles the body like a ring. In contrast, European earthworms have a raised, saddle-shaped clitellum that only goes partway around.
    - The Behavior: Jumping worms do not crawl like typical earthworms; they thrash vigorously and wriggle like snakes when touched.

    Spread & Prevention: "How do I stop them?"

    The most common way jumping worms move is through human activity, particularly the movement of soil, compost, mulch, and nursery plants.

    - The "Hidden" Threat: The worms themselves die each winter, but they leave behind tiny, soil-colored cocoons that are nearly impossible to see.
    - Arrive Clean, Leave Clean: Cocoons can hitchhike in the treads of #HikingBoots and #tires. Using boot brushes at trailheads and cleaning tools before moving between garden beds is essential.
    - Plant Sales & Nursery Stock: When possible, choose bare-root plants and rinse the roots into a bucket to ensure no cocoons are hiding in the root ball.
    - Contain and Return: Always dump the wash water and mud back onto the original site where you collected the plants or soil; this ensures you aren't accidentally moving "hitchhiking" cocoons to a new, uninfested area. If you need to dispose of the material, wash your gear over a bucket to capture the sediment, let the soil settle before pouring off the water, and once the remaining mud dries, bag and #solarize it (heating it to at least 104F) before putting it in the trash.

    Things you can do right now:

    - #Solarization: In Maine, this works best in the peak of summer when the sun is strongest. Spread a thin layer of infested soil, about 6-8 inches deep, onto a #DarkTarp and cover it with a clear drop cloth, sealing the edges to create a "package." Place a simple soil thermometer in the center to track temperature. Research suggests reaching 104F for at least two hours can kill the worms and egg-containing cocoons. If you don't have a soil thermometer, plan to leave the covered soil in full sun for at least three days. On clear, hot summer days, a thin layer will often reach target temperatures within one to two days, but the extra time helps ensure consistent heating throughout the pile and improves your chances of success.
    - Hand Removal: For small populations, you can hand-pick worms and drop them into a bucket of soapy water to kill them."

    Learn more:
    maine.gov/dacf/about/news/news

    #SolarPunkSunday #Gardening #MaineGardens #Compost #NaturalPestControl #NaturalPestSolutions #InvasiveSpecies #InvasiveSpeciesWeek
    #MaineDepartmentOfAgricultureConservationAndForestry

  9. #Mainers drove #Polhaus out of the state, so now he's taken up shop in NH...

    With #NeoNazi rally in #ConcordNH, #extremism and #hate are on the rise in #NewHampshire

    The demonstration in Concord was the group’s largest in almost a year. They’ve also rallied elsewhere, in places like Florida and Ohio.

    by Charlotte Matherly August 22, 2025

    Excerpt: "#ChristopherPohlhaus, the tattoo artist and ex-Marine who founded Blood Tribe several years ago, first appeared on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s radar during the fall of 2021.

    The following year, Pohlhaus worked to build a #BloodTribe basecamp near the rural town of #SpringfieldME. He has since sold the land and moved away."

    ledgertranscript.com/2025/08/2

    #NHPol #Nazis #WhiteSupremacists #Fascists #PunchANazi

  10. Gotta love #MaineDSA! Putting out quality information for #Mainers protecting #NewMainers (and everyone else)!

    Did you see ICE?

    Here's what to do next - a comradely reminder from your local Maine DSA chapter.

    The Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition. and other community partners have set up a hotine to report potential CE sightings. Please use the SALUTE method when reporting ICE to the hotine, Unconfirmed sightings create panic and confusion. please save the number to your phone, or take a tab with the number to keep handy.

    Size: How many agents/vehicles?
    Activity: What are they doing?
    Location: Where exactly is this happening? (exact address if possible)
    Unit: what agency? (ICE, CBP. etc)
    Time: When did you see this?
    Equipment: Vehicle descriptions, clothing, badges, etc.

    KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: All people living in the United States have rights regardless of your citizenship. Take a moment to learn about YOUR personal rights You shod learn about your rights beforehand so you can exercise them when needed:

    Read about your rights: maineimmigrantrights.org/mirc-resource-hub/

    This hotline needs volunteers! You can find the sign up link fo get trained and
    become a volunteer at maineimmigrantrights.org/mirc-resource-hub/

    Hotline number: (207) 544-9989.

    #WeKeepUsSafe #MaineResists #ResistICE #SALUTE #KYR #KnowYourRights

  11. #Maine #GovernorJanetMills releases $1.25 million to help #FoodBanks respond to #SNAP losses

    Mills also has not ruled out calling a special session of the Legislature so roughly 170,000 Mainers don’t lose federal food assistance.

    by Randy Billings. October 30, 2025

    FALMOUTH — "Gov. Janet Mills said Wednesday that her administration is releasing an additional $1.25 million in funding for food pantries and anti-hunger programs in a bid to keep nearly 170,000 low-income Maine families from losing assistance during the federal government shutdown.

    "Mills said the funding would be distributed through the #GoodShepherdFoodBank and the #AreaAgenciesOnAging to support programs such as #MealsOnWheels and other anti-hunger organizations.

    " 'When the federal government fails, Maine will not,' Mills said in a written statement. 'When challenges arise, Maine people step up.'

    "Mills is using $1 million from the governor’s contingency account and the John T. Gorman Foundation is providing $250,000. The Portland nonprofit noted that 55,000 children could lose food assistance.

    "Heather Paquette, president of Good Shepherd, said in a written statement that the funding will help support nearly 600 food pantries and other partner organizations across the state.

    " 'Our partners on the front lines are facing an overwhelming need for food right now and these funds will go to work immediately to help ensure everyone in Maine has access to the food they need to feed themselves and their families during this uncertain time,' Paquette said.

    [...]

    "Some other states are also announcing emergency funding for food banks and food assistance programs in anticipation of the loss of SNAP benefits. #Minnesota, for example, has announced $4 million for food assistance programs, and #NewYork is committing $30 million."

    Read more:
    pressherald.com/2025/10/29/mai

    Archived version:
    archive.fo/1nXLP

    #USPol #MainePol #MaineResists
    #Resistance #ResistTrump #TrumpSucks #TrumpIsABully #TrumpIsAFascist #SNAPCuts #USDACuts #HungerGames #KillThePoor #FoodStamps #FoodInsecurity #District13 #Mainers

  12. #MaineTribes - #FoodAssistance / #FoodPantries

    #IndianIslandME: St. Ann / #PenobscotNation DHS Food Pantry
    Location: 16 Wabanaki Way, Indian Island
    Days and Hours: Fridays 9:00 am. - 1:00 pm.
    Contact: Natasha Fields 207-817-7492 or (cell) 207-745-2907 for emergencies

    #LittletonME: #HoultonBandOfMaliseetIndians
    Location: 88 Bell road, Littleton
    Days and Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00 - 4:30
    Contact: Ashley Foster-Kinney 207-694-5254

    Littleton: Maliseet Housing Authority
    Location: 13 Clover Court, Littleton
    Days and Hours: By Appointment
    Contact: Amanda Sabattus 207-532-7260

    #PerryME: #Passamaquoddy Food Pantry
    Location: 22 Bayview Dr., Perry
    Days and Hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday Noon - 4:30 pm. & Wednesday 9:00 am. - 3:00 pm.
    Contact: Diane Libby 207-853-5139

    #PresqueIsleME: #Mikmaq Food Pantry
    Location: 37 Midway Drive, Presque Isle
    Days and Hours: Call Monday - Friday 8:00 - 4:00 pm. Pantry Monday - Friday - By Appointment
    Contact: Roxanne Shaw & Kandi Sock 207-764-1972

    #Wabanaki #Wabanakik #FoodInsecurity #FoodSecurity #Dawnland #WabanakiAlliance #MaineFoodPantries #SNAP #SNAPCuts #FoodPantries #Mainers

  13. #Mainers! Here's your chance to help fight #EmeraldAshBorer!

    #MaineForestryService - Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) Update

    September 22, 2025

    "Since 2019, MFS has been releasing parasitoid wasps for the long-term management of emerald ash borer (#EAB) in the forests of Maine. These are tiny, non-stinging members of the order Hymenoptera, and they specialize in EAB. In most cases, they will not keep the mature trees already in the forest alive, but there is evidence from other states that have had EAB longer than we have that these #wasps provide protection to the seedlings and saplings as they grow. We are attempting to release them in as many areas with EAB as possible so that they can eventually spread throughout the state, allowing ash to remain in #Maine’s forests.

    "As of 2025, we have released these #parasitoids in 20 sites throughout the range of EAB. Of the ten sites that are at the stage where we can start monitoring for their establishment, we have recovered one or both of Spathius or Tetrastichus at five of them: four in #YorkCounty and one in northern #Aroostook. We are still years away from actual control of EAB, but it is encouraging to start recovering parasitoids.

    "With the many new detections of EAB in Maine in recent years, we would like to establish new biological control release sites. The ash-dominated forests that serve as release sites can be public or privately owned. Many of our cooperators are private woodlot owners. Ideally, we would like to ship biological control directly to a local landowner or manager and have them conduct releases after training by MFS. The releases take 5-15 minutes, 4-6 times a summer for two summers. We are looking for new release sites in areas where EAB has recently become established. Specifically, we would like to find sites in or near #BarHarborME, #SolonME, #BelfastME, the #BathME / #BrunswickME area, #CoastalMaine south of #PortlandME, and #WesternMaine west of #LewistonME. If you have forested land in one of these areas and are potentially interested in having it become a biological release site, please review the guidelines and information about EAB biocontrol available on-line, and email foresthealth @ maine . gov (no spaces) with the town in which your ash stand is, the approximate acreage of ash, and the coordinates (approximate is fine) of the stand. If it looks like your land would be suitable for a biological control site, we will reach out to you."

    Source:
    Emailed newsletter

    Link to guidelines (PDF):
    maine.gov/dacf/mfs/forest_heal

    #InvasiveSpecies #AshTrees #SaveTheForests #ProtectTheSacred #Wabanaki #Basketry #SolarPunkSunday #Biocontrol

  14. #MaineQuestion1 is a good reason to vote in an "off-year" election (you know, when the sneaky types try and pass shit!).

    #Mainers like #AbsenteeVoting. Question 1 would make that option harder.

    The November referendum has been framed around requiring #VoterID, but it also includes a host of changes to absentee voting.

    Rachel Ohm, August 24, 2025

    Excerpt: "#MaineVoters have come to increasingly rely on absentee or #MailInBallots — a practice that is routinely targeted by #Republicans politicians as rife with potential fraud, even though evidence doesn’t support that.

    "During last year’s presidential election, almost half of all votes cast were absentee. The latest citizen-initiated proposal would make that more difficult.
    If passed, it would prohibit voters from requesting absentee ballots by phone, and would require older Mainers and those with disabilities to renew their eligibility each year. The proposal also would limit the number of #DropBoxes municipalities are allowed to have and prohibit them from including prepaid return postage."

    Read more:
    pressherald.com/2025/08/21/que

    Archived version:
    archive.md/CuNbt

    #Absentee #BallotAccess #Disabled #Poor #MaineVoters #DisabilityRights #VoterDisenfranchisement #USPol #MainePol #USElections

  15. TOMORROW! At Riverbank Park in #WestbrookME!

    "On Saturday, July 26, Americans in every corner of the country will come together in peaceful marches, rallies, and actions to say: Our families come first—not #billionaires, not #authoritarians, and not #CorruptPoliticians.

    "#Mainers are coming together as families and community members to amplify our collective experiences and demand that our leaders step up to meet the needs of families across the state. Join us on Saturday, July 26 at 10 a.m. in Riverbank Park in Westbrook!

    RSVP here: mobilize.us/familiesfirst/even

    "Do you have a story about how cuts to essential programs like #Medicaid, #FoodStamps, #SchoolLunches will impact your family and loved ones? Join us to share your story and to say NOT ONE MORE child without lunch, NOT ONE MORE #elder without #medicine, NOT ONE MORE #immigrant abducted, and NOT ONE MORE family left to suffer so #billionaires can get richer."

    Sponsored by the #MainePeoplesAlliance and the #MaineWomensLobby

    #MaineResists #TrumpSucks #ICEKidnapping #IllegalDetension #Fascism #BigUglyBill #MedicaidCuts

  16. #Mainers - Unfortunately, the deadline for purchasing this year has passed. But bug your municipality about buying in bulk for next year! [Similar programs exist in other states... I'll take a look-see after posting this.]

    Maine Resource Recovery Association -
    #Recycling and Solid Waste Management

    2025 Spring Backyard #Composting Supply Sale

    It's that time of year again! Put in your bulk order today!

    Backyard Composting Supplies

    - Kitchen Pail
    Collect food scraps for easy transfer to your compost bin.

    - Lobster Trap Composter
    Available in both a 3 and 4 foot size. Ideal for grass clippings, leaves, garden and food scraps. Comes with rings to assemble. Hog ring pliers are also available to order. MADE IN MAINE.

    - REOTEMP Thermometer
    Designed with a 20 inch stem this device is perfect for monitoring the interior temperature of your compost.

    - #EarthMachine [I own two of these...]
    80 gallon composting bin that converts, grass, leaves, and table scraps into an abundant supply of rich garden soil.

    - Wingdigger
    Use this handy tool to turn your compost. [I use a garden fork for that]

    - #RainBarrell
    55 gallon capacity, collects rain water for your garden.

    - Backyard #Compost Guide

    #Recycling Containers and Carts
    roll offs

    - Recycling Carts
    Easy handling curbside cart comes in 35, 64, 96 gallon sizes. Carts have excellent balance and stability. They are available in various colors.

    - Recycling Bin
    18 gallon curbside recycler for paper, cans, glass, plastics, etc. Holds up to 80 pounds, and allows for drainage of any liquids.

    Contact us to order."

    mrra.net/home/products/

    #SolarpunkSunday #Composting
    #ReducingWaste #Landfills
    #Maine #Recycling #MRRA #BackyardComposting #FoodWaste #FoodWasteComposting #RainwaterCollection

  17. A fundraiser for one of my friends here in Maine, organized by her sister. Jessica is a caregiver of two autistic kids and a good human. Please boost and donate if you can...

    Support Jessica's Healing After ICU Battle

    Organized by Shelly Cox

    "My sister Jessica went in for an emergency abdominal surgery on May 27th. She was in the ICU on a ventilator for 8 days as she fought off the sepsis and worked hard on healing. It was terrifying, and I thought we were going to lose her. She is now in a regular room in the hospital and is preparing for discharge. Thank goodness.

    "The recovery will be long, and she will need to have help at home for herself and also to help care for her children. Both of Jessica's children are on the autism spectrum, and the younger one has very high support needs. She is their sole caregiver and has given every part of herself to them, often in neglect of her own needs.

    "I would like to raise some money to help with the care of Alexander, her younger son, while she heals and regains her strength over the next couple of months. I want her to be able to focus on taking care of herself and minimize stress as much as possible!"

    gofundme.com/f/support-jessica

    #MutualAid #GFM #MedicalEmergency #Caregiver #ASDCaregiver #ASD #SingleMom #Mainers #Maine #Fundraisers

  18. #TaxTheRich, it’s a decent start

    Posted by Bluebird | Mar 12, 2025

    "As incredible as it may seem, just a handful of #billionaire #Mainers could fund the state for years out of their own pockets and still live out their lives as multimillionaires. So when socialists say tax the rich, we mean more than raising what billionaires pay by 1% or 2%, we mean raising their taxes by 25% or 50% or more to start with. We mean we should take back the wealth they have collected by exploiting all the people who have worked for them, all the land they have stolen, and all the resources they have grabbed all around the world. In the meantime, socialists often support smaller measures whenever we feel like they are a way to raise funds to help our class, raise consciousness, and build organization.

    However, increasing taxes on the wealthy isn’t a permanent solution to the persisting problems of #capitalist society. It’s a good start, but it’s not enough.

    [...]

    "By all means tax [the wealthy] at a rate of 95%, 99%, 100%, 200%! Take back everything they have stolen from us. Truly solving the causes of social inequality cannot happen until the property of the capitalist class has been expropriated, but for the reasons explained above, simply taxing them at any rate will prove ineffective given enough time.

    "Moreover, tax increases tend to antagonize capitalists. Sooner or later, as we are seeing very clearly now in Washington, they will transform their economic might into raw political power to claw back even the small social costs that generations of #SocialMovements and trade unions have imposed on them. During such times, as grim as our prospects may seem, it becomes clearer than ever that so long as the capitalists have all the power, even the most progressive public policy can only be temporary.

    "How much longer will capitalist industry be allowed to #pollute the planet? How many more times does the economy have to crash? How many more wars will we be forced to fight on the behalf of these #RobberBarons? How many more lives will be ruined by #debts, mass #layoffs, denied insurance claims, and more? Why should we tolerate a system that exploits those whose labor keeps society functioning?"

    Read more:
    pineandroses.org/opinion/www-p
    #MaineDSA #Socialism #CapitalismMustDie

  19. #PortlandMaine: Weekly protests, Saturdays at 11am! #MonumentSquare (alternate site, City Hall)

    #Protesters rallied at 16 #demonstrations across #Maine

    by Carol Bousquet, Maine Public March 2, 2025

    "Protesters rallied at 16 statewide demonstrations this weekend called #MarchEndTheMadness.

    "Hundreds filled #MonumentSquare in #PortlandME Saturday to speak out about the #Trump Administration’s actions that have harmed #Mainers, including #farmers and #FederalWorkers.

    "The protesters said they are calling for the restoration of checks and balances, the rule of law, and equity for all under the law.

    "Steve Titcomb of Falmouth said he worries about the security of our country and that of our allies with Trump in charge.

    "'The president has taken the side of #Russia and #Putin and is turning his back on decades of security for Europe and NATO,' Titcomb said.

    "Susan Hanley of Orr’s Island said she’s disgusted with how President Trump treated #Ukrainian President Volodymyr #Zelenskyy Friday at the White House and said his administration is not working for Americans.

    "'It’s not about ‘We the People’ for them. It’s about #greed and #money and #power,' Hanley said.

    "The #16CountiesForCourage marches were organized by #IndivisiblePortland, #IndivisibleBangor and other advocacy groups.

    "Earlier in the day about a hundred protesters gathered at Portland City Hall to speak out against the Trump Administration’s sweeping measures to downsize the federal government workforce.

    "Angus Ferguson organizes a protest called 'Every Saturday at 11 am in Monument Square' that has been gathering for several weeks but met at City Hall because of multiple protests across the city. He said the Trump Administration is ignoring the U.S. Constitution and turning it upside down.

    "'We’re protesting Donald Trump, #Musk and the #MAGA movement’s destruction of the U.S. Constitution, firing federal workers, decimating federal agencies,' Ferguson said.

    "Ferguson, who is an attorney, said the President is literally 'executing' or destroying the law with his actions."

    bangordailynews.com/2025/03/02
    #MaineProtest #BadDOGE #USPol #MainePol #MaineProtests #Resist #ResistFascism #ResistDOGE

  20. So, what's going on with the #GorhamSpur seems a lot like what happened with the #CMPCorridor (which #Mainers voted against). Despite public opposition, #MTA will say, "Oh, well we already bought most of the land, so we have to keep going!" The same tactic was used with the CMP corridor through the North Woods, when CMP said, "Well, we already started the project -- we plan on completing if, even if the public opposes it!"

    #MainePolitics #Maine #JanetMills #PeterMills #Corporatocracy #Overreach #TheWillOfThePeople #WorkingFarms #MaineTurnpikeAuthority
    #Sprawl #GorhamSpur #GorhamConnector #Wetlands
    #Meadows #EnvironmentalImpact #SaveSmilingHillFarm #SaveTheNorthWoods

  21. Opinion: #GorhamConnector plan threatens river #Ecosystem, #HeritageTrout

    Building a new road along the banks of #RedBrook will render barren a unique stretch of riparian #shoreline – with all the adverse consequences you might expect.

    by C. Ian Stevenson
    February 27, 2024

    "While proponents tout the toll-road Gorham Connector as promising to shorten commutes and relieve traffic pressure in #GreaterPortlandMaine, there has already been substantial pushback to the concept. Regardless of how much (or for how long) travel-based advantage the new roadway might bring, as proposed it will have pronounced, unambiguously negative effects to the area.

    "Maine is known for its sense of place. Many components contribute to what makes the state unique and desirable. Among these is the built environment, such as the 13th-generation Smiling Hill Farm in Westbrook, which the proposed route threatens to erode, if not entirely extinguish, as an economically viable vestige of Maine’s once robust agricultural heritage. Others have amply sounded the alarm about this issue.

    "But the route introduces other threats to the more naturalistic landscape. Starting at #SmilingHillFarm and running south-southeasterly to I-295 is a five-mile section of Red Brook that mostly nestles in #DenseForest. Between County Road and Running Hill Road, in particular, Red Brook occupies one of the few contiguous #undeveloped #Riverine stretches in #SouthernMaine. While unassuming in scale, Red Brook is nevertheless remarkable for supporting one of the last remaining native populations of #BrookTrout in this part of the state.

    "The proposed road will immediately abut the river, sitting nearly on its banks, for as much as a mile south of the County Road Interchange. This will degrade habitat, destroying the trees whose overhanging foliage provides shade and cooling effects for these temperature-sensitive fish and creates shelter from predators. It will make barren riparian shoreline that supports the aquatic and terrestrial insects that provide the primary trout food sources. The road itself will also contribute oil, salt and other #runoff to the river, #polluting the water. As a result of these factors, this connector will likely #exterminate this population of brook trout.

    "Why should we care about a small river and its brook trout? Although this is not the official state fish, the fishing community widely considers it the prize species to catch, with so-called wild populations assuming even more cherished status. Brook trout provide a link across generations and cultural traditions and belong to everyone. Human inhabitants of Maine – from the original #Wabanaki to European colonists to modern Americans – have been catching these 'native' fish for millennia. Other parts of Maine, especially further north and west, have healthy native brook trout fisheries, making Maine highly regarded nationally as a destination to catch them.

    "The fact that Red Brook, in the heart of #GreaterPortland, belongs to this orbit is no small feat. Most of the area’s waterways have already succumbed to habitat loss, development, predatory introduced species, warming temperatures and increased flooding due to #ClimateChange. Red Brook provides an opportunity for future #Mainers who might not have access to brook trout streams further afield to enjoy this natural amenity. Even if you do not care about fishing, this road promises to annihilate a population of one of our state’s heritage species, as well as its scenic habitat that also contributes to #Maine’s sense of place.

    "#PeterMills, the executive director of the #MaineTurnpikeAuthority, claims his organization has 'gone to great lengths to minimize impacts to Red Brook,' but clearly it hasn’t gone far enough under the current proposal. There are yet solutions.

    "Citizens can express concerns at a hearing planned for March or via the Maine Turnpike Authority’s online portal. If the connector is to be built, planners need to re-route to establish a buffer zone between the connector and river – even a few hundred feet would have a positive impact. While less ideal than a complete reworking of the route, this would at least retain the primary shoreline flora and fauna and allow for run-off infrastructure. And we could re-route the road to save Smiling Hill Farm at the same time. Or better yet, we could re-consider the whole project’s merit entirely."

    Source:
    pressherald.com/2024/02/27/opi

    MTA website (make your opinion known!):
    maineturnpike.com/Projects/Pla

    #WorkingFarms #Sprawl
    #GorhamSpur #InducedDemand #GorhamConnector
    #Wetlands #Meadows
    #EnvironmentalImpact #Extinction #Ecosystem
    #SaveSmilingHillFarm
    #SaveTheWoods #SaveTheFarms #Maine #Wetlands #Woods #LessCars #MoreLightRail