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As we've published advances for town meetings over the past few weeks, I've been struck by how much communities spend on cemetery repair and maintenance.

Voters in Columbia Falls, for instance, will consider spending $2,000 on municipal cemeteries in the coming year.

Maine law requires towns to maintain cemeteries, including repairs and mowing, which is work that is often supervised by committees, like the Columbia Falls Cemetery Association.

The amount Columbia Falls voters will consider spending on cemeteries is more than this town of some 500 people will spend on the Columbia Falls Town Library, with a request of $1,240. It’s a testament to how important cemeteries here are.

If you're interested in what cemeteries are in your town and who is buried there, check out findagrave.com. It's a searchable database of cemeteries around the world where people can add names and photos of their loved ones — a treasure trove for genealogists.

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We also hope you enjoy this final weekend of winter!

Maine Library Commission unveils draft rule that could restrict libraries’ access to state support: Proposed rule requires libraries to have strategic plans, mandates trustee training and bars trustees from serving as library directors. Read this story by Judith Meyer

Washington County auditor resigns, says he can’t meet bank’s deadline: The auditor will complete work on outstanding audits for the Unorganized Territories, but will not do any more work on Washington County’s 2023 and 2024 audits. Read this story by Judith Meyer

Lubec will explore short-term rental ordinance: The Select Board also heard an update about the commission pier collision last month and plans for the relocation of an historic sardine smokehouse. Read this story by Ethan Bien

Machias Select Board adopts town electronic communications policy: The policy is modeled on a template sent from the Maine Municipal Association. Read this story by Evan W. Houk

Machiasport considers solar streetlights to offset rising electricity costs: The solar streetlight discussion arrives on the heels of an LED light upgrade, supported by a 2019 grant that aimed to transition up to 75 percent of the town’s public lighting to low‑energy alternatives. Read this story by Melissa S. Razdrih

Jonesport residents vote to pause spending on historic town building: Some residents at Monday’s annual town meeting said the building should be torn down to make room for more parking. Read this story by Jessica Brockington

Harrington adopts ordinance prohibiting utility‑scale solar farms: Personal systems and those installed for business use may not distribute energy to the power grid for profit. Read this story by Judith Meyer

Washington County municipal elections and annual town meetings, March 16-17: Columbia and Columbia Falls

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

UMaine to return human remains, burial objects to Wabanaki Nations | Portland Press Herald

Connecticut man charged with assaulting CBP officer in Lubec | WMTW

SCEC & Gulf of Maine Research Institute working waterfront needs survey | Sunrise County Economic Council 

Maine’s Forgotten Revolution: The Battle of Machias | WABI

Maine’s outgoing hospital lobbyist says it is impossible to solve problem of rising health care costs | The Maine Monitor 

Heating oil prices are climbing in Maine, but assistance is still available | Maine Public

Maine House passes emergency bill to fund public defense services through the fiscal year | News Center Maine

UMaine to lay off staff as it slashes $5.6M from budget | Bangor Daily News  (Maine Monitor context: UMaine is re-envisioning its future. Faculty concerns are 'palpable')

Maine lawmakers hear plan for new agency to tackle school construction crisis | WGME   (Maine Monitor context: Only 2 Maine districts make the cut for school construction funds)

Lubec's Safe Harbor project ready to go back out to bid | Quoddy Tides

Committee recommends replacing Machias dike with exact replica | Quoddy Tides

Maine’s shift toward Republicans runs from Portland to rural places | The Maine Monitor and Bangor Daily News

Maine maple trees on track for 'productive' season | Spectrum News Maine

Scallop aquaculture offers promising opportunity for Maine’s working waterfronts | Mount Desert Islander

Maine-Canadian Legislative Advisory Commission hosts energy discussion | WABI

Reality TV star’s dispute over a Steuben camp is heading to court | Bangor Daily News

Students get deep-dive look at Maine fishing industry at marine trades forum | WABI

Advocates say proposed changes to MaineCare would take services away from kids with disabilities | Maine Public

What’s happening to Maine’s deer wintering areas — and why it matters | Bangor Daily News

NOAA considers changes to boat slow zones | Mount Desert Islander

Janet Mills offers a tax-cut compromise to a sweeping tribal-rights bill | Bangor Daily News

Have feedback, a correction or know of something we should look into? Send it to our newsroom. You can reach Monitor Local editor Judy Meyer directly via email: judy@themainemonitor.org.

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.

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