2021
Tribe launches own blueberry product brand
For the first time, wild blueberries hand-raked on fields owned by the Passamaquoddy Tribe will be marketed under their own brand.
Edward French
2021
Tenacity leads to new law for private schools
The perseverance of a teenage student at Washington Academy, her family and other supporters to address racist behavior at the private school in East Machias has led to a new state law that requires the town academies in Maine to meet the same requirements as public schools, in particular...
2021
Ecosystem approach being used to bring bioregional change
An organization advocating for an ecosystem approach to help bring about the changes needed for a sustainable future on Earth has been working for over a decade with groups around the world, including in the Passamaquoddy Bay region.
2021
Coast Guard housing work to start in Perry
Construction of the U.S. Coast Guard's housing project in Perry, which had stirred an outcry from neighbors on the Shore Road when it was proposed in 2019, is expected to begin this summer. The Coast Guard has awarded a contract to Ducas Construction of Scarborough in the amount of $8 million...
2021
Bills grappling with racism in schools advance
With concerns raised this past year about racist behavior and bullying at schools in Maine, a quartet of bills is moving forward in the Maine Legislature to help schools better address issues of discrimination, harassment, diversity and inclusion.
2021
Mining proposal for Pembroke stirs concerns
A proposal looking at underground mining for silver at a site in Pembroke has created among a number of area residents numerous concerns, including the possible negative impact of a polymetallic mine on groundwater, surface waters and the surrounding ecosystem that is one of the most productive...
2021
Bill proposal to decriminalize drug possession in state debated
While recognizing that the current war on drugs has been a failure, those testifying on a bill that would make possession for personal use of drugs like cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and opiates subject only to a $100 fine instead of possibly 10 to more years in prison were divided on whether the...