Mt. Blue school district fall-term COVID cases exceed 2020-21 total

As positive COVID-19 cases increase in the Mt. Blue school district and Franklin County, the Board of Directors chose to keep the current COVID-19 safety guidelines in place at their Nov. 23 meeting.

UMaine-Farmington students block road to protest town’s fossil-fuel emissions

Four University of Maine at Farmington students blocked off Main Street, one of Farmington’s busier roads and thoroughfares, to protest climate change and the town’s fossil fuel emissions. The sit-in ended when police intervened after 15 minutes. The sit-in raised discussion between participants, bystanders and other local activists about the most impactful ways to protest and instigate change.

The Better Living Center looks to adapt amid supply-chain issues

The supply-chain issues have made it increasingly difficult for the Better Living Center, Farmington’s natural food store, to stock their shelves with brand-name products. Wayne Drake, owner of the Better Living Center, is considering a hyper-localized model amid the issues.

Center for Entrepreneurial Studies receives $51,000 to help address homelessness in Farmington

The Bjorn Foundation, established by Richard Bjorn of Kyes Insurance, has donated $50,000 to CES’ ‘Making Home Possible’ initiative to provide housing-insecure youth with affordable tiny homes.

Wilton to explore merger of North Jay, Wilton water departments

The Wilton Select Board acted to send to the North Jay Water District Trustees with contingencies in order for Wilton to move forward in exploration of combining the Wilton and North Jay water departments.

Wilton Select Board brainstorms on spending ARPA funds

The board suggested spending some of the $418,000 it will receive from ARPA on funding for broadband, pay raises/bonuses for front-line workers like police, firefighters and grocery-store workers, or funding for stay-at-home parents unable to work because they can’t afford childcare services.

Community Health Network loses 48 employees to vaccine mandate

FCHN reports 48 employees (or about 6.6% of its workforce) resigned or ‘separated’ from the company due to MaineHealth and Gov. Janet Mills’ vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. Of the 48 resignations and separations, 34 were clinical roles.

Funding tiny houses for homeless youth with singing and raffles

Mt. Blue school district begins community-input process for strategic planning

Mt. Blue Regional School District (Regional School Unit 9) is handing out surveys on the district’s strategic planning via electronic forms and physical copies that they hope to collect by Dec. 20. The strategic planning committee is also organizing public outreach meetings in the district’s 10 municipalities and with student groups.

Wilton Appeals Board upholds Planning Board’s denial of Wilson Lake Marina application

The Wilton Appeals Board denied Wilson Lake Marina’s appeal following an application denial from the town’s planning board.