This sounds absolutely absurd. This is right up there with the moment we all decided that we were going to ban plastic straws and replace them with paper straws that disintegrate in your mouth before you can finish your drink. I’m not going to make this entire article political (rather it’s going to be more opinionated), but I have to get the logistics out of the way first.

According to WGME, voters approved a ban on plastic utensils, straws, and stir sticks this past Saturday. As you’d expect, it’s said to be about protecting the planet and our health, since micro plastics apparently threaten that.

Here we go. Look, I am all for saving the planet, keeping our community as healthy as we can, and saving the animals. But don’t we think this is a little too far? First we tried to do the paper straw thing, which took away at least 50% of my joy while drinking an iced coffee in the car. But now we’re going to do what, create paper forks? I think the concept is cute, and I’d like it better if it was a guaranteed solution. But the fact of the matter is it doesn’t feel like it is. Just because one town bans them doesn’t mean the rest of the world will follow suit, and then it’s just inconvenient for one town. However, as a disclaimer, this is just one opinion, and everybody is entitled to theirs.

Paper is anywhere from 4 to 5 more times expensive than plastic, so that translates into a lot of extra money in terms of the cost of doing business. The paper forks and knives, they don’t do really well but, we’ll figure it out. I’m not worried about it.

Let’s hear your opinions in the comments!

Ah, summer in Maine. The sun is shining, the air is warm, and the time to enjoy the great outdoors is here. If you’re like me, one of the my favorite things to do in the summer in Maine is see some great live music…outdoors!

Whether you’re into rock, pop, folk, blues, or something else entirely, there’s probably a venue hosting a summer show that you will want to see. I came up with a little guide to some of the best spots to catch some great bands perform under the open sky this summer.

1. Thompson’s Point – Portland

Thompson’s Point in Portland is a prime spot for outdoor concerts. This summer, they’ve locked in big names like Counting Crows, Flaming Lips, Guster,  Primus/Coheed and Cambria, Lake Street Dive, Goose along with others. This venue has the perfect summer vibe along with beautiful views of the Fore River, which make it a must-visit for any music lover. Plus, it’s just a short distance from downtown Portland, so you can make a whole day of exploring the city before the show​. Oh, did I mention the sunsets there are priceless?  

2. Maine Savings Amphitheater – Bangor

Maine Savings Amphitheater is a gem in Bangor. Maine’s largest outdoor venue offers a solid lineup each summer that include all different genres from rock, pop, country and beyond. From big names like Hootie & The Blowfish and Smashing Pumpkins to Niall Horan and Kenny Chesney, this recently renovated venue is perfect for those looking to see major acts in an outdoor setting. The waterfront location also adds a nice touch. 

3. Snow Pond Center for the Arts – Sidney

I’ve seen a few shows at Snow Pond Center for the Arts and I absolutely love this venue. the place to be. Located on Lake Messalonskee, it offers all the summer vibes for enjoying live music. You can bring your chairs or blankets and set up towards the back or if you’re like me and want to get right into it, there is a general admission standing area near the stage. There’s no better venue to check out the legendary Beach Boys! They will be there this summer along with the Indigo Girls and others. 

4. Thomas Point Beach & Campground – Brunswick

For those who enjoy a festival atmosphere, Thomas Point Beach & Campground in Brunswick is perfect. They host events like the Point Reggae Arts & Music Festival and the Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival. This venue is also perfect for those who love to camp out and enjoy multiple days of music. 

5. L.L. Bean Summer in the Park – Freeport

Freeport’s L.L. Bean Summer in the Park series offers free outdoor concerts right in Discovery Park.. yes, free. This is a great option for families or anyone looking to enjoy some live music without having to dig into the wallet. With a diverse lineup and a relaxed atmosphere, these concerts are the perfect way to spend a summer evening​. Don’t forget to bring your chairs. 

6. Wells Harbor Park – Wells

Wells Harbor Park is a great venue that hosts a summer concert series every Saturday evening. These concerts that take place in a gazebo might not be big national recording artists, but it won’t matter as your overlooking the harbor on a beautiful day while watching live music, it doesn’t get much more summer than that! Expect an intimate setting, great way to unwind after a day at the beach or a hike. 

The search for the gunman behind last October’s mass shooting in Maine was marked by “utter chaos,” including one group of deputies who had been drinking nearly crashing their armored vehicle and others showing up in civilian clothes who could have been mistaken for the suspect, according to an after-action report obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press.

The Portland Police Department report describes how officers rushed to secure the scene where the gunman abandoned his car after killing 18 people in the state’s deadliest shooting. Tactical team leader Nicholas Goodman said in the report that the officers who showed up without any orders risked doing more harm than good.

MAINE SHERIFF HAD PROBABLE CAUSE TO DETAIN MAINE GUNMAN BEFORE MASS SHOOTING, INDEPENDENT REPORT CLAIMS

A second tactical team that was also responding to the incident, from Cumberland County, nearly crashed their vehicle into his, according to Goodman.

“It locked up its brakes and came to an abrupt halt with the tires making a noise a large 18-wheeler makes when it stops abruptly while carrying a copious amount of weight,” he wrote. “I’d estimate the armored car came within 20-30 feet of striking our armored car and most likely killing a number of us.”

“You could smell the aroma of intoxicants” wafting from the Cumberland vehicle, whose occupants told him they had come from a funeral, he said.

“I have never seen the amount of self-dispatching, federal involvement with plain clothes and utter chaos with self-dispatching in my career,” Goodman wrote.

Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce said in an earlier statement that an internal investigation had cleared his officers and that no one was determined to be intoxicated at the scene. He said any report of intoxicated officers should have been raised at the time, not six months afterward.

Daniel Wathen, the chairperson of an independent commission investigating the shooting, said commissioners intend to address some of the report’s “disturbing allegations” but others may be outside the panel’s scope, including the allegations of drinking.

The nine-page report, which was partially redacted, was obtained by the AP through the state’s Freedom of Access Act.

Both the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and Portland Police Department tactical teams were responding to a location where the shooter’s vehicle was abandoned by the Androscoggin River the evening of Oct. 25, after the gunman, an Army reservist, killed 18 people and wounded 13 others at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston. The gunman’s body was found nearby two days later after he died by suicide.

The commission previously heard testimony from law enforcement officials about the chaotic hours after the shooting in which agencies mobilized for a search and police officers poured into the region. The panel reconvenes Friday to hear from witnesses on communications and coordination problems.

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The Portland report was especially critical of self-dispatching officers. The report suggested officers who arrived to help in plain clothes — “similar clothing to the suspect” — created a dangerous situation in which officers could have exchanged fire with each other in a wooded area near the abandoned vehicle.

Tactical vehicles used by the Cumberland Sheriff’s Office and Portland police apparently were not aware of each other’s presence. The Portland team, which arrived first near the site of the gunman’s vehicle, was attempting to keep police cruisers off a bridge where lights were transforming officers into potential targets.