Five events, all of which will start at 11 a.m., will be held

PUBLISHED ON June 16, 2024

ORONO, Maine — University of Maine Cooperative Extension welcomes local farmers, service providers, and Ag stakeholders to participate in the 2024 Maine Pasture Walk Series.

Five events, all of which will start at 11 a.m., will be held on the following days and farms:

• The Milkhouse, 445 South Monmouth Road in Monmouth, on Jul 10.
• Springside Farm, 577 Anson Valley Road in New Vineyard, on Jul 23.
• Faithful Venture Farm, 17 Borough Road in Searsmont, on Aug 06.
• The Wolfe’s Neck Center, 184 Burnett Road in Freeport, on Aug 13.
• Grace Pond Farm, 530 Main Street in Thomaston, on  Aug 20.

Attendees will learn about dairy production systems, pasture management, forage species identification, climate-smart practices, regenerative grazing, and more from forage producers and Assistant Extension Professor Jaime Garzon.

The 2024 Maine Pasture Walk Series is open and free for all participants. Visit the event webpage for more information and registration. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Melissa Babcock at 207.581.2788 or melissa.libby1@maine.edu.

About University of Maine Cooperative Extension: As a trusted resource for over 100 years, Extension has supported UMaine’s land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension seeks to build thriving communities and grow the food-based economy, focusing on aspects from production and processing to nutrition, food safety and food security. Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H which offers hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and civic engagement and creates a positive environment where participants are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles.

About the University of Maine: As Maine’s only public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, the University of Maine advances learning and discovery through excellence and innovation. Founded in 1865 in Orono, UMaine is the state’s land, sea and space grant university with a regional campus at the University of Maine at Machias. Our students come from all over the world and work with faculty conducting fieldwork around the globe — from the North Atlantic to the Antarctic. Located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation with UMaine Machias located in the homeland of the Passamaquoddy Nation, UMaine’s statewide mission is to foster an environment that creates tomorrow’s leaders. As the state’s flagship institution, UMaine offers nearly 200 degree programs through which students can earn bachelor’s, master’s, professional master’s and doctoral degrees as well as graduate certificates. For more information about UMaine and UMaine Machias, visit umaine.edu/about/quick-facts/ and machias.edu/about-umm/umm-facts/.

–University of Maine Cooperative Extension

METHUEN — Massachusetts police say gunfire erupted and multiple people were shot early Sunday morning during a pop-up party organized on social media.

Seven people were shot and wounded during the overnight violence. An eighth person was hurt while running away when shots rang out at a large gathering of young people in Methuen, authorities said Sunday.

DA calls it “tragic case of gun violence”

The gunfire began just before 2 a.m. after hundreds of people gathered for a pop-up party billed as a car meetup organized on social media, officials said at a news conference. The party happened in an industrial park along Lindburg Avenue, a secluded area of Methuen. Tire tracks from drivers doing donuts could still be seen on the ground Sunday evening.

The victims range in age from 17 to 22 years old. Two of the victims are in critical condition.

“That’s very family-friendly area, it’s a nice area to live,” said Methuen resident Joseph Autiio. “I’m honestly shocked it happened over there. I think social media affects everybody. Everybody’s connected and can see things going on on social media, especially young kids, and it definitely affects the way they think and it’s getting worse and worse, obviously. It’s sad, especially that people got shot.”

“This is another tragic case of gun violence that brings us together this morning,” Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said. “It’s pretty amazing that with the amount of ballistics evidence that we’re recovering that more people weren’t hurt.” 

Pop-up party was organized on social media

Authorities declined to comment on the number of suspects. No arrests have been made, and no weapons have been recovered.

Metheun Police Chief Scott McNamara said authorities have been monitoring other “hot spots” where such gatherings typically take place, but Sunday’s attack happened in a new location and was the first to turn violent.

“Usually these meet-ups consist of very loud music, disorderly conduct, sometimes drinking,” he said. “We try to take action where we can to discourage it, and we’ve been fairly successful in that regard. Unfortunately we did experience a tragic incident here in Metheun last night.”

No suspects have been identified. Tucker said they’re pursuing all potential leads in the case.

The state has broadened who can seek payment for abuse while at the former Youth Development Center. 

Gov. Chris Sununu signed Senate Bill 591 Friday, which immediately expands the type of abuse eligible for payment but also increases settlement payment caps and gives individuals six more months to submit claims.

Under the new law, lawmakers added $60 million to the original $100 million Youth Development Center settlement fund to expand and increase compensation to victims. 

Until Friday, the state considered claims for only sexual and physical assault, and it capped awards at $1.5 million for sexual assault or a combination of sexual and physical assault and at $150,000 for physical abuse alone.

Now, there is an additional cateogry for “egregious” sexual abuse, defined as “wanton or cruel” abuse, that goes beyond what most victims experience. Those claims would be capped at $2.5 million.

Also new is a category for “other” abuse, which could include unlawful restraint, confinement, strip searches, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. 

The two attorneys who represent nearly 1,000 former YDC residents have encouraged them to sue the state rather than settle because of limits on payments and eligible abuse. The attorneys told lawmakers they’d encourage their clients to settle instead under the bill.

In a statement Friday, Attorney General John Formella, whose office oversees the settlement process, thanked lawmakers, the governor, and the two attorneys who represent nearly 1,000 former YDC residents for supporting the legislation signed into law Friday.

“As we move forward, we are committed to working closely with (the fund’s administrator), plaintiffs’ counsel, and, most importantly, the victims themselves, to ensure that the implementation of these changes is conducted with fairness, respect, and efficiency,” Formella said. “Together, we are dedicated to providing victims with the justice and closure they deserve.”

Claims, which will now be accepted until May, can be filed via the Attorney General’s website, ydcclaims.nh.gov.