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A Flatlander Learns That It's Better to Be Wild in Maine

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A Flatlander Learns That It's Better to Be Wild in Maine


I’ll be honest, back in California, I assumed all blueberries were the same when it came to making my protein (peanut butter counts as protein) smoothies. Once again, Maine has educated me and made me a wiser and more informed human. It makes sense this education would occur here considering over 95% of wild blueberries in the U.S. are produced in Maine. 

Maine Wild Blueberries VS. The Imitator Blueberries

Blueberries

David Bugenske – TSM Maine

That’s right, there’s a significant difference between wild blueberries and cultivated blueberries. According to wildblueberries.com, and yes, they may be a little bias considering their website address, but it also doesn’t mean that they are wrong, wild blueberries are filled with far more nutrients and most importantly, flavor.

Wild blueberries

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David Bugenske/TSM Maine

Wild blueberries have 72% more fiber than regular blueberries, and that is just one little W for the wild.

For generations, Maine families have nurtured these wild berries that boast an intense blueberry taste. Ranging from tangy tartness to succulent sweetness, wild blueberries are frozen fresh and loaded with 33% more brain-healthy anthocyanins than ordinary blueberries. Their smaller size means twice the berries—and twice the antioxidants—in every bite. – wildblueberries.com

Bigger Isn’t Better Against Wild Maine Blueberries

Wild vs natural blueberry

David Bugenske/TSM Maine

The blueberry on the left is a “natural” cultivated blueberry, while the smaller blueberry on the right is wild from Milbridge, ME and produced from Mainers who began selling Wyman’s Wild Blueberries in 1874.

I can Google facts all day, but what do my tastebuds say? It was quickly revealed that wild blueberries from Maine destroys any competition. I had no idea the significant difference in flavor until I compared the two.

It’s safe to say that I will be spending the extra money and only purchasing the smaller, yet more succulent wild Maine blueberries going forward. As for the claims of more antioxidants and nutrients? If I live to 100, I will give all credit to Maine and her blueberries.

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Tips To Conquer The Dreaded Maine Fruit Fly

I can’t tell you how annoyed I am by the sheer amount of fruit flies I have in my Maine home and I found out how to get ride of them, once and for all. Check it out.

8 Fresh Fruit Salad Recipes

Fruits and Veggies You Can Share With Man’s Best Friend

Healthy snacks you can munch with your pup.

Gallery Credit: Big Billy





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Maine DHHS data shows recent spike in cases of alleged fraud

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Maine DHHS data shows recent spike in cases of alleged fraud


PORTLAND (WGME) – New numbers from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services are revealing a recent spike in cases of alleged fraud, waste and abuse in Maine over the past few years.

The state released the data after CBS13 filed a public records request.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit is responsible for looking into allegations of fraud within major state assistance programs.

That includes MaineCare, SNAP and temporary assistance for needy families.

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We looked back eight years to get a sense of just how many cases the state has seen.

According to data CBS13 obtained through a public records request, in 2018, the unit received more than 1,400 fraud complaints.

In 2019, it was more than 1,000.

Amid all those complaints, investigators found 77 were “intentional program violations.”

Many more over those two years were referred to the Attorney General, local district attorneys and even federal prosecutors for review.

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We don’t know the outcomes of those cases.

Fast forward to 2024, where complaints reached close to 1,000 again. This time, the unit found 164 intentional violations.

Fifty-one were referred to local DAs, five to the AG and three to the federal government.

Last year, there were still hundreds of complaints, and investigators found only 52 intentional violations, with 38 cases referred for prosecution on some level.

New numbers from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services are revealing a recent spike in cases of alleged fraud, waste and abuse in Maine over the past few years. (WGME)

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And as of February of this year, the unit has received 94 complaints and found three program violations.

So far, no cases have been referred for prosecution.

Maine DHHS also has a program integrity unit, focused on waste, fraud or abuse within Maine’s Medicaid program.

Complaints have risen there, too, from 153 in 2023 to 183 in last year, a nearly 17 percent increase.

About a dozen of those cases were referred to the U.S. Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, which accepted all for investigation or prosecution.

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The Maine Attorney General’s Office says when a complaint is referred to them, it’s reviewed, and the AG then decides whether there is enough evidence to move forward.

We’re still waiting on a response from the U.S. Inspector General about how they handle these case referrals.



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Meet the 2025-26 Varsity Maine All-State girls wrestling team

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Meet the 2025-26 Varsity Maine All-State girls wrestling team


Hannah Perro, Noble senior, 100 pounds

An All-State selection last year, Perro returned this winter after offseason shoulder surgery and thrived. She became the first four-time girls state champion, allowing just two points on her way to the title, while leading the Knights to a co-team championship with Mt. Blue. A former two-time New England girls champion, Perro also reached the quarterfinal round of the Class A co-ed championships. She finished fourth at 106 pounds at the Class A South championships.

Sora Bukoski, Penobscot County sophomore, 107

Bukoski placed herself among the more dominant female grapplers in New England. She didn’t allow a single point on her way to the 107-pound girls state title, then allowed just six points — all in the finals — on her way to the New England title. Bukoski earned a win at the Noble Invitational in December. She also finished runner-up at 106 pounds at the Class A North co-ed championships and fifth at the Class A championships.

Brooklynn Webber, Mt. Blue senior, 114

After winning the 126-pound girls title last year, Webber moved down two weight classes and claimed the 114 championship this year, helping the Cougars to a share of the team title. Webber earned her 100th career victory during the girls championship meet. She wrapped her career with three state titles. She also won the 120-pound title at the Franklin Savings Bank tournament in Rumford and the Belfast Girls Invitational. She is a two-time All-State pick.

Martina Gili Fernandez, Maine Central Institute senior, 120

After winning her first state title last year at 145 pounds, Gili Fernandez dropped four weight classes and won another title this winter, beating Alanna Smith of Camden Hills by a 14-8 decision. She also won the 120 title at the Skowhegan Girls Open, as well as the 126 title at the Belfast Girls Invitational. Gili Fernandez is a two-time All-State selection.

Delaney Frost, Noble junior, 126

Frost, a two-time All-State pick, helped the Knights to a share of the girls team state title. After winning the state and New England titles at 120 pounds last season, Frost moved up to 126 and dominated the competition on the way to another girls state championship. She finished third in her weight class. Frost also won her weight class at the Noble Girls Invitational.

Kaydn Hansen, Mt. Blue sophomore, 132

After winning the 114-pound state title last season, Hansen moved up three classes and won another title. She allowed just four points in four matches on the way to the 132 championship. She also finished fourth at New Englands. She also won the 126 championship at the Franklin Savings Bank Girls Invitational, and the 132 title at the Skowhegan Open and Belfast Girls Invitational. Hansen is a two-time All-State selection.

Nevaeh Grunhuvd, Massabesic senior, 138

Grunhuvd helped the Mustangs win their first New England girls championship this winter. The state champion at 132 pounds last year, Grunhuvd edged Erskine Academy’s Maxine Spencer by a 6-5 decision for the 138 title. Grunhuvd, a two-time All-State pick, finished runner-up at 138 at New Englands.


Sophie Grunhuvd, Massabesic senior, 145

A two-time All-State selection, the Varsity Maine Girls Wrestler of the Year was the driving force for the Mustangs capturing their first New England team championship. Grunhuvd allowed just three points in her final three matches at New Englands, and she allowed two points to capture the state title. She also won tournament titles at the Noble Girls Invitational, the Belfast Girls Invitational and the Skowhegan Open.

Ava McGinnis, Nokomis junior, 152

McGinnis captured her first New England championship this winter, topping Nmachukwu Okoli of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, for the 152-pound crown. The two-time All-State pick didn’t allow a point at the state championship meet to defend her title. She won tournament titles at the Skowhegan Open, the Belfast Girls Invitational and finished third at the Noble Girls Invitational.

Aesa Brock, Massabesic junior, 165

A runner-up in her weight class at the Belfast Girls Invitational early in the season, Brock had a breakout performance in December, winning the 165-pound title at the Noble Girls Invitational. She was dominant at the girls state championships, winning by pin in the quarterfinals and finals, and by tech fall in the semifinals. Her performance helped Massabesic to a runner-up finish.

Izzy Bertocchi, Maine Central Institute sophomore, 185

Bertocchi didn’t allow a single point and won all three of her matches by pin at the state championship, beating Amelila Maillet of Dirigo for the title. She had an equally dominant performance at the Skowhegan Open, where she allowed just one point, winning her semifinal and championship final by tech fall.

Lilly Soper, Bucksport junior, 235

A two-time All-State pick, Soper won her third straight state title this winter, beating Theresa Campbell of Belfast by pinfall. All three of Soper’s wins in the tournament were by pin. She finished third for the second straight year at New Englands, winning her first two bouts by an 11-1 margin.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Ken Hall, Massabesic: A former standout at Massabesic, Hall led the Mustangs to a runner-up finish at the state meet and the program’s first girls New England championship. Led by Sophie and Nevaeh Grunhuvd, the Mustangs finished with 52 points at New Englands, holding off runner-up Salem (New Hampshire), which scored 48 points, and Woburn (Massachusetts) which scored 44.

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Dave Dyer is in his second stint with the Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel. Dave was previously with the company from 2012-2015 and returned in late 2016. He spent most of 2016 doing freelance sports…
More by Dave Dyer

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Maine Maple Sunday Weekend draws visitors to 100-plus sugarhouses statewide

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Maine Maple Sunday Weekend draws visitors to 100-plus sugarhouses statewide


The smell of sap and the taste of fresh syrup drew crowds to sugarhouses across Maine as the state celebrated the 43rd annual Maine Maple Sunday Weekend.

More than 100 sugarhouses statewide took part in this year’s event. At Balsam Ridge Christmas Tree Farm in Raymond, visitors got a firsthand look at how Maine sap is turned into maple syrup.

“So far we’ve had a great time, we have enjoyed all the maple treats,” said Doug Noe, a Portland resident.

Balsam Ridge Farm owner Dewey Lloy walked visitors through the process, explaining how sap moves through the evaporator. “Most of the evaporation is going to occur here in the back pan which is the evaporator pan and its going to come to the front pans which are syrup pans and now its becoming maple syrup at this point,” Lloy said.

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Lloy said the farm plans to produce more than 300 gallons of syrup this year and expects more than a thousand visitors this weekend.

“It’s always nice to see the young and old and everybody that is just excited to get out and sample soon syrups and get stocked up on some syrup,” Lloy said.

Visitors sampled maple treats while listening to live music and exploring the Christmas tree farm.

Maine Maple Sunday weekend

“They always have great music and food and there’s always nice people to come see,” said Sam Menzel, an Oxford resident.

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According to the Maine Maple Producers Association, Maine produces more than 575,000 gallons of maple syrup each year from more than 2 million maple tree taps across the state. As the state’s official sweetener, maple syrup remains a tradition that brings people back year after year.

“Its grown so much in the last years and its amazing to see how well their doing and i love to come support,” Menzel said.

Maine Maple Sunday festivities will continue across the state tomorrow.

For more information click here



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