Maine
Coalition of outdoor groups, businesses and towns call for $30M bond to repair, expand Maine trails
A coalition of than 500 outdoor organizations, businesses and municipalities is calling on Maine lawmakers to send a $30 million bond to voters this Fall.
The funds would be managed by the Bureau of Parks and Lands and dispersed over four years to organizations and towns for motorized, non-motorized and multi-use trail projects.
Supporters say the money is urgently needed after recent storms and floods caused severe trail damage around the state. Al Swett of the Maine Snowmobile Association cites a gaping hole in a major snowmobiling thoroughfare between Jay, Wilton and Farmington that was caused by a major washout last Spring.
“And we haven’t got to it yet because it’s just too expensive to fix. Right now, we don’t have the money to fix it and they’re estimating like $800-thousand. It’s 40-feet deep and 200-feet long.”
Swett says there’s also a trail Down East that is wiped out from flooding. Other members of the coalition say there are similar issues with hiking, biking and ATV trails around the state. They say the bond money could pay for repairs but also help create new trails and serve as an investment in Manie’s rural outdoor recreation economy which supports 31,000 jobs.
Chris Riley, president of the Central Maine chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association, says Maine can no longer afford to sit back.
“I take a couple of weeks every year to travel around the country and experience different trail systems and see what other communities are doing and one of the things I’ve seen in the last ten or 15 years of doing that is that we are simply outpaced by other states in our trail development.”
Riley says states like Michigan, Utah, Vermont and New Hampshire are putting money into trail systems that helps spur economic development in local communities and also provides mental and physical health benefits for trail users.
In a statement to Maine lawmakers, the group writes that “In literally every corner of the state, trails are a valued resource for connecting Maine people and visitors with the natural world and reaching destinations to work and play.”
But when asked at a news conference Thursday why a $30-million bond for trails should be a priority over housing, mental health services or food insecurity, George O’Keefe, economic development director for the town of Rumford said outdoor recreation is the key to future growth. He said his town does a pretty good job of ensuring essential services like health care and mental health services are available in his community and that they are well funded.
“Our concern,” he says, “is these critical economic diversification efforts are not particularly well funded and do not have a history of being particularly well funded. And whether it’s in Rumford or Piscataquis County, outdoor recreation is the way that we’re going to be able to help people have employment and help people break the cycles of…substance use, unemployment or deprivation…and the trails bond is critical to that.”
Among the supporters are the Maine Chamber of Commerce, the Maine Municipal Association, L.L. Bean, the Maine Snowmobile Association, ATV Maine, land trusts, outdoor recreation companies and dozens of cities and towns.
The trails bond, a bill first introduced in 2023, is expected to be taken up by the Appropriations Committee in the next few weeks. It needs a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate and the Governor’s approval in order to be placed on the November ballot.
Maine
This Maine Restaurant’s Lobster Roll Is 3 Feet Long… Yes, Really!
This iconic spot is a “road-trip-worthy” Maine destination, but can you handle their newest addition?
Spring has sprung, which means plenty of people will take a well-deserved break from the daily grind and hit the open road. If you’re heading out to explore some cool Maine traditions—and you love lobster rolls—we’ve found the perfect stop.
The Taste of Maine restaurant has been serving up delicious seafood since 1978. They’re famous for a few things: a giant inflatable lobster that covers about 75% of the roof, and their claim to fame—the “World’s Largest Lobster Roll.”
These legendary lobster rolls are 22 inches long, and over the years, many customers have taken on the dare of finishing one. If you succeed, you earn membership in the “Clean Plate Club”—no easy feat given the size of this lobster roll.
But this year, Taste of Maine has gone even bigger. Introducing the “Monster” Lobster Roll: 3 feet long, packed with 2½ pounds of fresh Maine lobster meat—tail, claw, and knuckle—all on a 6-inch roll. This colossal creation carries a price tag of $259.99.
Read More: Maine Amusement Park Reveals New Family Attraction For 2026
Located at 161 Main Street in Woolwich, Maine, Taste of Maine is now open for its 48th season.
One of the best things about Taste of Maine is watching people take on these enormous lobster rolls. Guests love filming themselves attempting to finish them, including a Guinness World Records titleholder for “World’s Largest Mouth Gape.”
Spring Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
To see just how long Taste of Maine has been a local favorite, check out this classic TV commercial from the 1980s!
New Arcade in Brewer, Maine Opens This Month
Game on, Brewer! The arcade of your dreams is almost here. Get ready to press start!
Gallery Credit: Arlen Jameson
12 New Restaurants That Opened in Maine in February 2026
Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna
Maine
Maine lawmakers should prioritize childcare
LettersToTheEditor-640×400
To the Editor;
Access to affordable child care plays a direct role in whether Maine families can work, pursue education, and maintain stability. The Child Care Affordability Program helps keep child care costs within reach for working families.
To the Editor;
Access to affordable child care plays a direct role in whether Maine families can work, pursue education, and maintain stability. The Child Care Affordability Program helps keep child care costs within reach for working families. At Penquis, we serve 270 children from 266 families across dozens of communities through our child development programs, including Head Start, Early Head Start, and child care. We see firsthand how access to child care determines whether parents can work, pursue education and build long-term stability for their families, particularly in communities facing workforce shortages and rising cost of living.
Child care availability alone is not enough. We can have programs and facilities in place, but if care is not affordable, it remains out of reach for families who are already struggling.
Without it, the cost of child care places an unsustainable burden on Maine families, consuming as much as 29% to 39% of income for single-parent households and 10% to 13% for two-parent families. CCAP is one of the few tools that effectively addresses this challenge by ensuring child care costs are affordable, capping costs at 7% of income for those with the lowest incomes, and expanding access for many more families.
Investing in CCAP supports children’s healthy development, enables parents to participate in the workforce, and strengthens Maine’s economy. We urge state leaders to prioritize this $15 million investment in the supplemental budget and ensure that affordable child care is accessible to the families who need it most.
Kara Hay Penquis
Bangor
president and chief executive officer
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Maine
Wife dead, husband in serious condition after fire at Maine home
A woman is dead, and her husband is in serious condition after a fire broke out at their home in Readfield, Maine, Friday night.
The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office tells NBC10 Boston affiliate News Center Maine that the Readfield Fire Department responded to the house on Plains Road around 9:51 p.m. and found a large fire.
Jerrold Wentworth, 74, had escaped from a second-floor window and told crews that his wife was still on the second floor of the home, officials said, but firefighters were unable to go inside to rescue 75-year-old Carolyn Wentworth due to the fiery conditions.
A photo shared by the fire marshal’s office shows the fire destroyed the home.
Carolyn Wentworth’s body was found in the debris around 1:45 a.m. Saturday, near where she had been sleeping, fire officials tell News Center Maine. An autopsy will be conducted to determine her cause of death.
Jerrold Wentworth was taken to Maine General Medical Center where he’s in serious condition, officials added.
Investigators from the state fire marshal’s office responded to the scene and are working to determine the cause of the deadly fire.
An investigation remains ongoing.
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