Maine
Relief fund to offer grants to Maine businesses impacted by flooding, power outages
A special fund is being established to offer grants to small businesses that were affected by last month’s severe flooding and windstorm.
The Retail Association of Maine and the Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association announced Tuesday that the relief fund will offer grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 to help businesses recover from the storm. The groups expect the Maine Business Relief Fund begin accepting applications for grants by Jan, 4 and they are asking other businesses or individuals to make tax-deductible donations to the fund.
Curtis Picard, president and CEO of the Retail Association of Maine, said the timing of the Dec. 18 storm resulted in many businesses losing inventory, suffering equipment damage and losing sales one week before Christmas.
“It was important for our industries to pull together to try to help directly and quickly,” Picard said. “The goal of the Maine Business Relief Fund is to provide some direct financial relief to help businesses clean up, restock and get back on their feet quickly.”
Many riverfront downtown areas along the Kennebec, Androscoggin and other rivers experienced some of the most severe flooding in decades following the storm. Some areas received more than 6 inches of rain while others were buffeted by wind gusts exceeding 70 mph. Hundreds of thousands of Maine residents and businesses were without power at the peak of the storm and immediately afterward.
Speaking inside the restaurant of Cushnoc Brewing — one of multiple downtown Augusta businesses affected by the flooding — Gov. Janet Mills said her administration supports the creation of the new grant program and plans to contribute $10,000 from her office’s contingency fund. Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency also arrived in Maine this week to assess damage from the storm, which is a precursor to a federal disaster declaration that would make areas eligible for additional federal assistance.
“My administration will keep doing all we can to support efforts like these that will help businesses and individuals in our communities and help our state recover from last month’s horrific storm,” Mills said.
Organizers say an anonymous donor has offered to match $250,000 in donations to the new fund. More information about the program is available online at www.MaineBusinessReliefFund.com.
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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