Local Coronavirus COVID-19 Resource Center: Alerts, Closings, Cancellations
CSD teachers, staff parade peninsula
Boothbay Region Elementary and High School teacher, staff and administrators formed a parade March 30 to wave and say hello to students around the peninsula.
BRES Principal Shawna Kurr and BRHS interim principal Tricia Campbell led the parade on a CSD school bus decorated with hearts and the words: “WE MISS YOU.”
Said Kurr, “Seeing students, parents, grandparents, siblings, and community members waving and cheering back at us on this drizzly day, was incredibly touching.… Read more
CSD Committee to meet online April 8
The CSD School Committee will meet via Zoom for the first time at 6 p.m. April 8 to continue regular board business and budget discussions, agenda to be announced.
Access the Zoom meeting at https://us04web.zoom.us/j/6615898367
Users may be required to install Zoom to access the meeting. Click “Download and Run” if prompted. The meeting ID is 661 589 8367.
Selectmen sink seasonal water delay concept
Boothbay Harbor selectmen decided March 30 not to pursue a waiver with the Maine Public Utilities Commission delaying the start of seasonal water. On March 23, selectmen had discussed possibly moving the May 1 start date to May 15. That meeting came after an emergency meeting of Boothbay’s selectmen with Southport selectmen considering the delay.
Boothbay Harbor board… Read more
Careless ... entitled ... dangerous?
“We’re all in this together.”
No, apparently we’re not. Some of us seem to be entitled to more than others. More toilet paper, more hand sanitizer, more – you name it. For some people, this virus is bringing out the worst in their behavior.
Most of us watched in horror as television news showed young adults crowding the beaches over spring break, wondering why they didn’t understand that their actions could harm others around them.
But from Hawaii to Maine, resort… Read more
Boothbay Harbor Planning Board virtual meeting April 8
The Boothbay Harbor Planning Board will hold a virtual meeting via Zoom (see directions below) on Wednesday, April 8 at 7 p.m.
Agenda
Call to Order
Roll Call of Members
BRHS graduation meeting canceled
Allan Crocker of Boothbay Region High School has announced that the graduation meeting scheduled for April 2 at Boothbay Region High School has been canceled.
“We will announce an alternative date when we are once again able to meet in larger groups,” said Crocker via email.
COVID-19 deaths recorded in Kennebec, York counties
AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC reported Tuesday, March 31 an additional two deaths in the state from COVID-19, bringing the state’s death total to five.
The new cases are individuals with full-time residency in Kennebec County, where 12 people have tested positive, and York County, where 59 people have tested positive.
Both individuals were women in their 80’s and were in hospitals at their respective times of death.
The two new deaths follow a… Read more
March 31 update: New Knox County COVID-19 case; one recovery in Knox, Waldo counties; 303 statewide cases
AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, March 31, of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state of Maine.
Today, there are 303 cases confirmed across the state.
Sixty-eight people in Maine have recovered from COVID-19, while five people have passed. Fifty-seven people have been hospitalized across the state.
In a March 30 press briefing, Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah noted there are more than 6,000 negative cases. “Because of the number of outside labs that are… Read more
Coronavirus not interrupting local Meals on Wheels program
The local Meals on Wheels program is rolling along despite a worldwide coronavirus pandemic. All 29 Boothbay region clients are continuing to receive meals Monday through Friday. At least two volunteers deliver meals between 9 a.m. and noon. The only obstacle caused by coronavirus is Board President Pat Wheeler is away in Florida and directors aren’t sure when she will return. Client Coordinator Mary Lou Koskela is directing the program in her absence.
Koskela believed when Gov.… Read more
MPS cancels public awards reception
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we regret to announce that the opening reception for the 15th annual Maine Photography Show (MPS) , scheduled for Saturday, April 4, is cancelled.
Award winners of the 2020 show will be notified directly and the winners announced on www.mainephotoshow.org at 2 p.m. on April 4.
And, because the photo show is a “non-essential business,” the MPS committee has had to postpone the exhibition. However, the work is posted on the MPS website as… Read more
Dept. of Labor joins new federal unemployment programs to help Mainers during COVID-19
AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Labor has opted in to new temporary federal unemployment programs to provide relief to people in Maine affected by COVID-19, according to a news release.
Congress enacted and the President signed the new CARES Act which includes these provisions on Friday, March 28. On Saturday the 29th, the state completed the documentation to begin the process for receiving the new federal unemployment funds.
Because Maine already had in place emergency… Read more
Next LC Commissioners meeting is by conference call
The Lincoln County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, April 7 at 9 a.m. will be by conference call.
To listen in, please call the number listed and use the access code highlighted.
Attached is a participant guide if you have questions on how to use the service.
The public comment option from the agenda has been suspended until we can resume in-person meetings.
We anticipate meeting telephonically until we are advised by the state to resume normal meetings.… Read more
CLC YMCA extends closure until April 27
Central Lincoln County (CLC) YMCA has extended the closure of the main facility and child care site until April 27. Management will continue to monitor the situation and work closely with the town of Damariscotta, LincolnHealth, and the superintendent of the AOS93 school district to align with consistency on best practices.
CLC YMCA continues their virtual online fitness classes and has now added virtual story time and activities for child care participants. Outreach efforts are… Read more
Lincoln County EMA develops resource website
In an effort to provide one stop shopping for anyone seeking local resources and information in Lincoln County, the EMA Emergency Operation Center has created a webpage where groups and organizations in Lincoln County can submit this information to be shared. https://www.lincolncountymaine.me/covid-19
This webpage is made available to any organization in Lincoln County that is providing a resource or information directly… Read more
Donating cloth facemasks
As frontline caregivers up and down the state call out for PPE, Boothbay Region Health Center is orchestrating a volunteer effort for local sewers to make and donate washable cloth facemasks.
Board of Directors President Patricia Seybold explained, “There are two types of masks: those that can be used by health care professionals and those that can be used by anyone if they have to go out.” Masks suitable for professionals, said Seybold, can be worn over other PPE. “They have a… Read more
Wiscasset teen’s musical take on stay at home time
Julia Truesdell brought smiles to the faces of those staying at home on Monday afternoon with her original song, “We’re all at home.” The homeschooled eighth grader posted a video recording of the song on her YouTube music channel. With catchy lyrics such as “we’re all at home, no place that we can go, but you can be assured, everyone feels the same, cooped up inside, going insane,” and a ukulele accompaniment, her tune had already garnered over 250 views on YouTube as of 8:30 p.m. Monday… Read more
Governor, DHHS commissioner accelerate benefits for personal care workers, home-bound seniors
AUGUSTA — Governor Mills and Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Jeanne Lambrew announced March 30 the acceleration of pay increases for personal care workers and expanding access to meals for older Mainers who are home-bound in response to COVID-19, according to a news release.
Maine DHHS will accelerate MaineCare (Medicaid) rate increases that are designated to support pay raises for personal care workers, including personal support specialists, home… Read more
When hiking, find the hidden gems
The current COVID-19 epidemic has put a strain on people throughout the world. The crisis has forced sudden changes in our daily lives including work closures, remote working, homeschooling, and social distancing. For many, these circumstances, along with the alarming daily news reports, are a source of great stress and anxiety. Maintaining physical and mental health during these trying times is essential, and Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) is here to help. BRLT offers a wide variety of… Read more
When the college-bound become home-bound
Many Boothbay Region High School alumni have returned to the peninsula as colleges and universities concentrate on keeping students home to practice social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. BRHS College Access Coordinator Hannah Johnson said she has been reaching out to post-secondary alumni letting them know she is still a resource for them, especially students who cannot or do not wish to stay with their families.
“… Mostly I'm hearing that folks are glad their universities… Read more
Diocese of Portland announces directives for celebration of Holy Week and Easter in Maine parishes
PORTLAND---The Diocese of Portland has informed Maine parishes of the protocols that will be in place for the celebration of the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter.
All celebrations must be limited to/not exceed 10 people or less, including all clergy, and will not be open to the public due to the regulations currently in place in Maine as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Without public Masses and commemorations, there will be unprecedented live-streaming and broadcasting of liturgies… Read more
March 30 update: Lincoln County’s COVID-19 cases rise; 275 statewide cases
AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, March 30, of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state of Maine.
Today, there are 275 cases confirmed. Forty-one people in Maine have recovered from COVID-19, while three people have passed. Forty-nine people have been hospitalized across the state.
In a press briefing, Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah noted there are more than 6,000 negative cases. “Because of the number of outside labs that are testing samples from Maine, it is no… Read more
Making work work during pandemic
With the COVID-19 outbreak, many residents have been adapting to working remotely. What it means to work from home varies greatly for each profession and for Lorna Weber of Wiscasset, it means two very different professions. Weber is both an assistant vice president mortgage loan officer at the First National Bank in Boothbay Harbor and a fitness instructor at Wiscasset Community Center (WCC). Both jobs have now become remote, and she’s made some unique adjustments to make it work.
MaineHealth institutes telehealth to keep patients out of doctors’ offices
Responding to COVID-19 together
Since Maine’s first case of COVID-19 was announced on March 12, individuals across our state have sprung into action. People in our community have quickly adapted to protect public health, from temporarily closing schools and businesses to moving to remote work, practicing social distancing and more. I am grateful and proud for the consideration and support we are providing each other, and wanted to provide some additional insight and resources.
In our coastal community, I know many… Read more
A quick summary of Maine’s COVID-19 response law
Under extraordinary circumstances, leaders of the Maine State Legislature came together working tirelessly throughout the March 14-15 weekend and reached agreement on a package of new laws to address the immediate needs of state government in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.
The following Tuesday, the last day of the recent legislative session, the entire State Legislature passed, and Governor Mills signed those changes in law granting special temporary powers to the governor to… Read more
CANCELED: Conservation District extends plant sale order deadline
UPDATE: In response to the national emergency created by COVID-19 and Maine Governor Janet Mills’ Executive Order of March 31, 2020, which mandates that Maine citizens “Stay Healthy at Home” through at least April 30, the Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District’s Board of Supervisors made the difficult decision to cancel our Spring Plant Sale, scheduled for May 2 and 3, 2020 at Union Fairgrounds. This includes the public sale and all pre-order sales. Although the… Read more
Red Cross blood drive in Damariscotta collects from 40 donors
Forty donors donated to the Red Cross blood drive on March 26 at the Central Lincoln County YMCA. The blood drive was co-sponsored by the Second Congregational Church, UCC in Newcastle and the CLC YMCA.
The blood drive was originally planned to be hosted at 2nd Congo, one of the bi-monthly drives the church has committed to. A week ago it was determined by church leadership that the use of the church’s Fellowship Hall, normally the site for blood drives, wouldn’t… Read more
March 29 update: Knox County’s COVID-19 cases rise; 253 statewide cases
AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, March 29, of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state of Maine. Today, there are 253 cases confirmed.
Forty-one people in Maine have recovered from COVID-19, while one person has passed.
By sex, 129 males tested positive in the state and 124 females tested positive.
Confirmed Cases: This number represents tests that come back positive from any approved lab.
Negative Tests: This number represents… Read more
Wiscasset shows support with lights
Wiscasset residents have been showing support in the fight against COVID-19 by displaying lights.
Here are some from March 28. Are you displaying lights or another sign of support? To share it, email a photo and your name and town to news@wiscassetnewspaper.com