BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – The University of Maine System is re-starting the process to find a buyer for the Hutchinson Center.

Starting next week, the University of Maine will issue a new request for proposals, or RFP, for the property in Belfast.

UMaine went through this process before, ultimately selecting a winning bid from Calvary Chapel Belfast.

However, after multiple appeals, UMS reversed course earlier this month, saying there were shortcomings in the first evaluation process.

The new RFP opens at noon next Friday, Oct. 4.

Interested parties, including the three organizations who submitted proposals the first time, will have until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1 to respond.

Copyright 2024 WABI. All rights reserved.

VILLAGE OF MAINE, Wis. (WSAW) – The Village of Maine is dealing with a sudden firefighter shortage after six members, including the chief and two lieutenants, resigned at a board meeting on Monday night.

They take with them nearly 30 years of experience. Their departure is largely due to the deputy chief who was demoted and suspended for an incident of equipment misuse.

One former firefighter tells NewsChannel 7 they feel the board has too much control and the chief should make more decisions.

They question if the department can properly serve its communities without, what they say, are their top responders.

On Tuesday night the board held a meeting to discuss a plan to move forward.

“Tonight’s officer and board meeting was planned to start the groundwork for a positive transition,” Village President Betty Hoenisch stated. “After a couple of conversations with Captain Leo Gau, he felt it would be best for the new officers to meet and put a tentative plan together. That plan will then be put together and brought to the Village of Maine Board, and that plan may result in revisions being made to Maine’s fire department bylaws and standard operating guidelines.”

According to the department’s roster, they now have 15 firefighters. However, not all members are active.

Hoenisch says the community is still safe and there are no lapses in response. The Maine Fire Department also serves the Towns of Berlin and Stettin.

Copyright 2024 WSAW. All rights reserved.

Jeff McCabe was announced Wednesday as the new director of Maine’s Office of Outdoor Recreation. Photo courtesy of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development

Jeff McCabe is the new director of Maine’s Office of Outdoor Recreation, the state announced Wednesday.

The outdoor recreation office is a part of Maine’s tourism office in the Department of Economic and Community Development.

McCabe succeeds Carolann Ouellette, who was promoted in May to lead the tourism office. Ouellette had been Maine’s tourism director from 2010-2016. McCabe, a former Democratic majority leader in the Maine House, had served as deputy director of outdoor recreation since November.

“Maine’s Outdoor Recreation economy is strong and growing,” McCabe said in a statement. “It has been an honor to work with and to hear from those in the industry from across the state and I look forward to the work ahead.”

The Office of Outdoor Recreation was established in 2019 to leverage the state’s parks, waters, woods and mountains; to grow that sector of the economy; and to build Maine’s reputation as a destination for activities such as fishing, camping and snow sports.

“Jeff will be able to seamlessly continue and build upon the important work being done in outdoor recreation to contribute to Maine’s economy,” said Heather Johnson, commissioner of economic and community development.

About 32,000 people work in the outdoor recreation industry in Maine, which contributes about $3.3 billion annually and makes up nearly 4% of the state economy, according to the department. Maine ranks sixth in the country in terms of the value that the industry adds to the state economy.

Copy the Story Link