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Good morning from the shores of Gouldsboro, where towns are beginning to welcome the seasonal flood of visitors from around the country. I’m Jacqueline Weaver, and I'll be bringing you news from downeast each week, along with a little snippet of something I found interesting.

This week I looked at the city of Eastport, which has been trying to build up its cruise ship business, but is now being told by U.S. Customs Border Protection that the agency can’t provide staff to screen the four foreign vessels due to arrive in Eastport in September and October — unless the city wants to cover the cost of bringing in additional agents on overtime, plus travel expenses. 

The beleaguered Eastport Port Authority is working with state and federal officials to find a solution, especially as businesses are relying on the extra income that comes with an extended season. 

That's all for now. It looks like it will be a spectacular weekend. Enjoy it!

Eastport wants cruise ships. Federal staffing issues may complicate that: The city of Eastport is working with federal Homeland Security officials and the Congressional delegation to find a way around a shortage of staff to screen cruise ship passengers arriving on foreign vessels — without breaking the Eastport Port Authority’s bank. 

What has become a nuisance in some communities — cruise ships— is a lifeline for Eastport. Read this story by Jacqueline Weaver of The Maine Monitor.

While The Maine Monitor does not place its content behind paywalls, some newsrooms we link to in this newsletter may. 

Federal court denies request to halt Bar Harbor cruise limits | Bar Harbor Story 

Rocky path lies ahead for re-opening Seawall Road | Mount Desert Islander

Housing data widen view on scarcity crunch | The Quoddy Tides

Sumner Memorial High School names new principal | The Ellsworth American 

Great Pond fire deaths 'considered suspicious,' IDs released | The Ellsworth American

MMA ships depart Castine | The Ellsworth American

Blue Hill fire station's future to be discussed | The Ellsworth American

Tiny house subdivision coming to Blue Hill | The Weekly Packet 

MMA names interim president following Paul resignation | The Weekly Packet

Take two: Brooklin school renovation shot down at referendum | The Weekly Packet

Bucksport-area officials fear lakes will fall if dams are abandoned | The Bangor Daily News

Hancock man sentenced for assaulting FBI agent | The Bangor Daily News

Know of a story that we should be digging into? Send it to our newsroom.

The Maine Monitor is a publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit news organization that produces investigative journalism. We believe news is a public good and keep our news free to access. We have no paywall and do not charge for our newsletters. If you value the reporting we do for Maine, please consider making a donation! We cannot do this reporting without your support.