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The voyage of Artemis II and the lunar flyby we’ve been witnessing over the past 10 days has been nothing short of amazing, giving us an opportunity to see a side of the moon we’ve never seen before.

Just because we haven’t seen it doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate how much the moon’s influence has on Earth, from ocean tides to stabilizing our planet’s wobble. Some believe the moon affects plant growth.

The Farmers’ Almanac charts the phase of the moon and its position in the Zodiac to determine the best days of the year to do household chores, indoors and out.

According to the Almanac’s wisdom, today is a good day to make jam, to cut your hair, and to paint. It’s also one of the best days of this month to start potty training, if that’s necessary in your household.

The Almanac also says today is a good day to dig post holes, kill plant pests and host a party. Maybe a party celebrating the return of the Artemis II? If you haven’t seen images taken by the crew, it’s worth a minute to look here.

And just one more note: as Monitor Local has grown, we’ve been publishing more frequently throughout the week. You will continue to see all of our Western Maine work rounded up in this newsletter on Saturdays — with a new name: Western Local — but you can also get the freshest news as it’s published by signing up for The Maine Monitor’s new newsletter, the Daily Dispatch.  

Wilton Board of Selectpersons schedules nonbinding vote on police collaboration for June 9: The board also signed agreements to share public works equipment with Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls. Read this story by Bob Neal

Maine Library Commission discusses meaning of ‘quality’ library service: Commissioners are expected to propose new minimum standards for public libraries in May before opening the proposal to public comment. Read this story by Judith Meyer

Rangeley Police Department saluted for completing state accreditation program: The department joins nearly 40 other police agencies in Maine that have earned the designation. Read this story by Ashton F. LeCraw

Fairfield mobile home park residents have faced nearly 3 years of unsafe water amid rent hikes: Residents have lived under a boil water order since 2023. Water stoppages, plus high levels of bacteria and “forever chemicals,” have led some to stop drinking the water altogether. Read this story by Emmett Gartner

This western Maine mountain town is desperate for more housing: As the tourist economy drives new growth in northwestern Maine, Eustis, where most properties sit empty for much of the year, has little housing available. Read this story by Daniel O'Connor of The Maine Monitor and Bangor Daily News

Proponents of Maine trans athlete referendum criticize wording of question: Protect Girls Sports in Maine, the committee responsible for bringing the proposal to voters this November, said the ballot language is “not dutifully faithful to the proposed legislative text.” Read this story by Daniel O'Connor of The Maine Monitor and BDN

The following stories are from other newsrooms. While The Maine Monitor does not place its content behind a paywall, some newsrooms we link to below may. Paywalled stories are followed by a ($). We encourage you to consider supporting local Maine newsrooms.

A RSU 9 school board director from Farmington has resigned | Daily Bulldog

A moratorium on data centers larger than 20 megawatts did pass through the Legislature | Spectrum News Maine

The Franklin County Commissioners chose to collaborate with the Budget Advisory Committee prior to setting the budget, in a split vote | Franklin Journal ($)

UMaine faculty outline ‘grave concerns’ with administration in scathing letter | Bangor Daily News ($)   (Maine Monitor context: UMaine is re-envisioning its future. Faculty concerns are ‘palpable’)

Maine Supreme Court says proposed ranked-choice voting expansion is unconstitutional | Maine Public

Maine border crossings are continuing to fall as Canadian tourists shift their travel plans | Maine Public

New state law gives protections to Mainers with medical debt | Maine Public

Maine public health groups to share support for new medical cannabis regulation bill | WABI

Oxford Hills’ draft budget would keep spending flat at $54.4 million, in part by cutting 6.5 positions in MSAD 17 | Advertiser Democrat ($)

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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