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Hello from the Bold Coast! The calendar and the slant of the sun as it shifts lower on the horizon tell us that summer is fading. And yes, those dreaded back-to-school ads are already rolling out.

But hold on! I’m here to report that summer Downeast is still in full swing. Can I get an ayuh?

The buzz of activity isn’t only from the bees that have been busy pollinating all those glorious wild blueberry blossoms. There was a steady drone last weekend from the hundreds (thousands?) of people rushing to Washington County from near and far to celebrate those delicious tiny gems.

Organizers of the 47th Annual Machias Wild Blueberry Festival report that plenty of sunshine helped make this year’s event possibly the biggest ever. Despite nagging Route 1 construction and a still hobbled dike, Machias streets were running blue. 

A little bee also buzzed in my ear that some news is on the horizon about the stalled dike project. Watch here for more about that soon.

As they rebuild, Downeast businesses

take lessons from January’s storms

The Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association estimated at least 60 percent of Maine’s working waterfronts were heavily damaged or destroyed in the January storms.

Since then, many coastal businesses have had to decide whether to abandon their enterprises or rebuild, hoping to fortify their properties against future major storms — in some cases with a cash infusion from the state.

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. 

ICYMI: Ellsworth will soon have a public defender's office with a plan to hire two more attorneys. How difficult will it be to staff the office? | The Maine Monitor

ICYMI: A federal grant is expected to allow Maine to add thousands of heat pumps in low-income homes and train HVAC technicians to install and maintain them. | The Maine Monitor

The Bar Harbor Town Council has developed an ordinance that would set up a new licensing system for the town to enter into contracts with cruise lines. | Maine Public

Officials are advising the public to avoid swimming at Sand Beach Lagoon in Acadia National Park due to bacteria levels. | WABI

West Nile virus was detected in crow on MDI. | Bar Harbor Story

With school about to start, districts are racing to fill open positions. Officials say special education jobs are especially hard to fill. | Portland Press Herald

Bar Harbor approves Jackson Lab’s $33M expansion for rare disease research. | MaineBiz

Estimates on great white shark numbers in region debated | Quoddy Tides

Abandoned derelict vessels are costing Maine communities thousands of dollars to remove. | Maine Public

Hancock County Probate Judge William Blaisdell has been sanctioned by the state bar board. | Portland Press Herald

Ellsworth voters will be asked if they wish to allow adult use cannabis stores in town when they receive their election ballots come November. | Ellsworth American

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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.