Maine
3 New Maine Hotels For A Summer Escape
Dunes on the Waterfront, Ogunquit.
There is nothing like a Maine summer, and as this summer approaches, three enticing new hotels have just opened their doors for the 2024 season.
Dunes on the Waterfront, Ogunquit
Dunes on the Waterfront, a group of 21 white clapboard cottages with green shutters on 12 acres of lawns overlooking Ogunquit’s famous beach, dunes, and tidal river, debuted this month. Ranging from one to three bedrooms, the cottages date back to 1936 and were owned by three generations of the Perkins family. Hotelier Tim Harrington and his company, Atlantic Hospitality, bought the cottages last year from the Perkins’ and spent $10 million renovating the property. Harrington has a strong record of restoring and reimagining vintage Maine coastal properties, including The Claremont in Southwest Harbor and Salt Cottages in Bar Harbor. He’s also a partner in the Kennebunkport Resort Collection, 10 hotels that include Hidden Pond in Kennebunkport. You can stroll to the resort town’s many restaurants, bars, and shops or take one of the hotel’s complimentary bikes and ride into town. It’s a short distance from the famed Ogunquit Playhouse, Maine’s most beloved summer stock theater. All cottages have a private porch or patio, the better to soak up the coastal atmosphere. Pursuits include relaxing in the heated swimming pool with ocean views, paddle boarding, kayaking, and waterfront yoga classes.
Rockport Harbor Hotel, Rockport.
The Rockport Harbor Hotel, Rockport
The Rockport Harbor Hotel has been flying under the radar since it opened in December 2023. This 20-room boutique hotel is now ready for its first summer, a new luxury property on Rockport’s busy main street, with its restaurants, galleries, and shops. Rooms are traditional in style—no trace of trendy minimalism here — and every room has a marble bathroom, a gas fireplace, and a balcony, with views of either the harbor or the Camden Hills. The Oak Room restaurant, which looks like it’s been there for about 100 years but is, in fact, brand new, offers creative comfort fare from Chef Travis Nestor. Atrium, the hotel’s fine dining restaurant with views of the harbor and Penobscot Bay, will open soon on the hotel’s fourth floor. There’s plenty to do in town, and if you need more, the tony port town of Camden is just up the road. The Farnsworth Art Museum’s incredible collection of Maine-born artists, including three generations of Wyeths, is a short walk from the hotel.
Longfellow Hotel, Portland.
Longfellow Hotel, Portland
Longfellow Hotel, originally scheduled to open in 2023, finally opened this month in Portland. The Congress Street location is in Portland’s historic West End neighborhood, one of the city’s best locations, amidst 19th-century Victorian and Italianate architecture. The hotel is within walking distance to areas like the Old Port, East End, and the Arts District. The city’s first independent, full-service hotel to open in many years has 48 rooms and a Nordic-inspired spa. The 1,800-square-foot spa, Astraea, focuses on whole body and mind wellness. Dining options include the Twinflower Café, a wellness-focused restaurant serving wholesome breakfast and lunch offerings. The Five of Clubs is the bar and serves cocktails, beer and wine, and small bites. The Maine-based, family-owned hospitality group Uncommon Hospitality is behind the Longfellow Hotel, named for Portland-born poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one of America’s most-beloved bards.
Maine
Penobscot County’s first case of bird flu confirmed
A strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has been detected in a flock of backyard birds in Penobscot County this month for the first time since it appeared in Maine almost four years ago.
The case of H5N1 was confirmed on Dec. 1, according to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, which reports cases by county and does not specify towns. Federal disease tracking data show the new case affected 90 birds and is one of the few known cases in eastern or northern Maine. Two flocks were affected in Hancock County in 2023, following two in Washington County the year before.
It’s only the third known detection in a backyard flock in Maine this year; the first two, in Cumberland County, were confirmed in February and affected about 110 birds. Statewide, health officials have raised the current risk level to high in response this month as the wild birds that typically spread the disease are migrating.
That risk level reflects the likelihood of birds getting sick, not people, according to Jim Britt, spokesperson for the state agriculture department. Commercial flocks haven’t been affected. The disease has been detected in numerous wild birds around Maine this year, primarily in southern and coastal counties.
While people can get bird flu, this strain isn’t considered a big public health risk, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said. Human cases have come from exposure to birds and dairy cattle, according to the CDC, but there are no confirmed U.S. cases of people spreading it to each other.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is generally spread to poultry through the droppings of wild birds or exposure to them. It was first found in Maine in 2022, and has been detected in a handful of flocks annually after numerous cases that year.
Signs of infection in poultry include low energy and appetite, soft or misshapen eggs, swelling around the head, purple wattles, combs or legs, coughing and sneezing, nasal discharge or sudden death.
To limit risk to their flocks, poultry owners can protect them from contact with wild waterfowl by providing indoor shelter and covering outdoor areas. Sick and dying birds can be reported to the state online.
Maine
Light snow expected to develop across Maine Sunday night
Periods of light snow will develop across the state this evening.
The snow will start 6-9 PM for most areas.
A look at Stormtracker at 7 PM Sunday. (WGME)
A weak area of low pressure will move through the Gulf of Maine.
As it does so, it may enhance snowfall rates for areas east of Rockland through Downeast Maine.
A look at Stormtracker at 10:30 PM Sunday. (WGME)
It’s a quick hitter with the snow coming to an end 11 PM to 3 AM from west to east.
This will not be a big event, but likely enough to cause some slippery travel on Monday morning.
A look at Stormtracker at 6 AM Monday. (WGME)
For many areas north of Portland through central and eastern Maine, a fluffy 1-3” of snow is likely.
Forecast snowfall map for Sunday night. (WGME)
Those areas previously highlighted from Rockland through Downeast may see spots upwards of 4-5”.
This will pass, and the Frigid air settles in.
Highs Tomorrow Interactive.png
Highs on Monday will only top out in the teens to low 20s.
Wind chill values Monday afternoon. (WGME)
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Wind chill values will stay in the single digits for much of the day.
Maine
Maine Human Rights Commission adds MSAD 52 to lawsuit over transgender sports policies
TURNER, Maine (WGME) — The Maine Human Rights Commission is adding a sixth school district to their lawsuit over transgender policies in schools across the state, that’s according to our media partners at the Sun Journal.
Earlier this year, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at keeping transgender athletes out of girls’ sports, arguing it protects fair opportunities under Title IX.
In a board meeting on Thursday, MSAD 52 voted to align Trump’s polices with the district.
Shortly after, the district was added to the list of schools being sued.
“I think it comes to a point where it goes against the state, but we gotta do what’s right. And I think it’s right to support female athletes,” Board Chair Peter Ricker said. “I think there are potential lawsuits regardless on the issue until the state makes up their mind and until the feds make up their mind.”
The board voted 5-4 in favor of passing a policy to keep transgender athletes out of girls sports.
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