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Good morning from the shores of Gouldsboro, where everyone was counting the minutes until the East Coast emerged from beneath the “heat dome.” 

In Caribou, just 10 miles from the Canadian border, it was warmer than in Miami — 94 degrees (103 degrees when combining heat and humidity) compared to 89 degrees. It was the first time the National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat Warning in the nation’s most northeastern city. 

In another first, the Department of Marine Resources cautioned oyster farmers and certain hard clam farmers to bring harvested oysters to 50 degrees as quickly as possible. The worry was about reducing the risk of Vibriosis. Caused by Vibrio, a naturally occurring bacteria found in marine waters, the pathogen can cause nasty stomach issues and sepsis. 

DMR suggested harvesters pack on the ice and move the product as quickly as possible. DMR recently extended its precautions against Vibrio to all of Maine’s territorial waters between June 1 and October 15. 

As Worcester Holdings sprays pines with pesticide, Addison residents call for moratorium

On June 10, the Columbia Falls-based Worcester Holdings — the company behind the scrapped Flagpole of Freedom project — notified nearby Addison residents that the company would use drones to spray imidacloprid over 190 acres of its pine forest this summer.

The pesticide is being used to control balsam gall midge and woolly adelgid in the fir trees that supply balsam branch tips for Worcester Wreath, one of the company’s holdings. 

The news caused a furor on social media, with residents alarmed about the potential threat to wildlife, humans and the environment. 

But the Worcesters aren’t the only ones applying pesticides. The practice is common in forestry and agriculture.           

Read this Maine Monitor story by Joyce Kryszak.

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The Ellsworth Planning Board recently considered applications for three projects that together could add 200 units of housing to the city. | MaineBiz

A new report estimates Maine needs an additional 2,300 full-time care workers to “bridge the gap between the care people are entitled to and approved for, and what is available.” | The Maine Monitor

With the closing of Charlotte Elementary School this month, a more than 200-year era during which, at one point, the town operated up to five local schools to provide an education for its many children is coming to an end. | Quoddy Tides

Communities around the state are struggling to get needles off the street. About 350,000 syringes have been collected under the Maine Syringe Access Program in Washington County and closer to 500,000 in Hancock County. | Bangor Daily News

The town of Caribou conjures up snowshoeing, cross country skiing and snowmobiling. But the most northeastern city in the U.S. got a new distinction this week. For the first time ever the National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat Warning for the area. | Associated Press

With JetBlue ready to take over in September, the Presque Isle International Airport will be adding Boston as a destination. The U.S. Department of Transportation has chosen JetBlue as the airport’s Essential Air Services carrier for the next two years, replacing United Airlines. | Bangor Daily News

Bad news for Maine’s iconic evergreen trees. Pine, spruce, ash and beech are among softwood species expected to decline in coming decades. Researchers are starting to plant tree species in Maine that are usually found in the mid-Atlantic state. This counter attack is called assisted migration. | Bangor Daily News

Ellsworth is looking at including money in the upcoming budget to beef up security at City Hall and at City Council meetings. The council said the meetings or just doing the city’s business can be rowdy. There was one recent interaction between a resident and staff, who ended up pushing the panic button. Part of the reasoning is that the police department used to be in City Hall but has moved to High Street. | Ellsworth American

The 2nd Congressional District race is being watched closely around the country because it could play a role in the battle for control of Congress. The race pits U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, against Republican state Rep. Austin Theriault of Fort Kent, a former Nascar driver endorsed by former President Donald Trump. | Portland Press Herald 

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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.