Blog - Local / Community News Items and Commentary

This is the full stance that the SMMC Executive Team made for Question 1 on the 2021 Maine Ballot.  This stance includes, in bold, the items that appear in the summary stance which is on a separate blog post on this website.  

The summary stance is an abbreviated version of the full stance that the SMMC Executive Committee approved for Question 1 on the 2021 Maine Ballot.  In summary, both sides were considered and the SMMC Executive Team found the benefits outweigh the risks and urge Mainers to vote No on 1 and reject blocking the corridor

Mid Coast–Parkview Health Announces 2021 Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinics

BRUNSWICK, ME — During the month of October, Mid Coast–Parkview Health will host a series of drive-thru flu shot clinics at Mid Coast Hospital’s Parkview Campus, 329 Maine Street in Brunswick. Clinics will be offered the first four weekends in October from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Mid Coast Hospital Reopens On-Site COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic

BRUNSWICK, ME — On Monday, August 30, 2021, Mid Coast Hospital’s COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic will re-open at 81 Medical Center Drive for eligible individuals to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Open for walk-ins, the clinic’s hours will be Monday through Friday, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Vaccines will be available to individuals who wish to receive their first and second doses; third doses will be offered to immunocompromised people.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people who have certain conditions that may weaken their immune systems and who received Pfizer or Moderna vaccines should receive a third dose of the same COVID-19 vaccine as the one listed on their vaccination card. 

Maine Economic Recovery Input Sessions

We want to hear from YOU!

Join the Department of Economic and Community Development in a regional discussion to share input on potential business and nonprofit support programs.

Maine Department of Labor Offering Workplace Training Sessions

SafetyWorks! can help you prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths and reduce related costs. Our safety & health consultation and training services are offered at no charge and confidential and we don't issue fines or citations.

We are pleased to report that more than 200 people have registered for the 2021 NAS Brunswick Reunion to date and we are looking forward to hosting a great event during the weekend of 17 – 19 September.  Here are some important updates that we want to pass:
 

• Admiral William F. “Bill” Moran, USN (Retired) - a former VP-44 “Golden Pelican” and 39^th Vice Chief of Naval Operations - is confirmed as the guest speaker for the Lobster Bake Banquet on Saturday night

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS TODAY
AND URGE THEM TO OPPOSE LD 1708!

LD 1708, An Act To Create the Pine Tree Power Company, a Nonprofit Utility, To Deliver Lower Rates, Reliability and Local Control for Maine Energy Independence, would force a $13.5 billion state takeover of Central Maine Power (CMP) and Versant Power and create a government electric utility run by a board of elected politicians.

Call your legislator today and urge them to oppose LD 1708
and stop the rush to government-controlled power.

LD 1708 would create an unprecedented government takeover of the state’s two largest property taxpayers that will raise electric rates for decades to come.

Passage of LD 920 will have a chilling effect on broadband expansion in Maine

As amended, LD 920, An Act To Promote Oversight of and Competitive Parity among Video Service Providers, would make video service providers and streaming services delivered over the internet a “public utility,” subject to the multitude of regulations that currently cover gas, electric, and water companies. Passage would result in a sea-change in Maine law and add costly new fees to cable customers’ monthly bills, making recovery from a difficult year even more challenging. What’s worse, this preemptive fee could make Maine vulnerable to costly litigation, further burdening taxpayers. And that’s not all - the bill discriminates against providers of streaming services that are investing in critical broadband infrastructure for the state of Maine. 

DURING THE PAST 10 YEARS, MAINE EMPLOYERS PAID MORE THAN $1.36 BILLION INTO THE UNEMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND, AVERAGING $136 MILLION A YEAR. YOU DESERVE A VOICE!

Maine employers do not object to discussions about potential changes to the Maine unemployment insurance system. We do however object to being shut out and to our interests being dismissed. Legislation under consideration (LD 1564 was amended to include elements of LD 1571), would:

• Increase the cost of unemployment insurance paid by employers;
• Outsource some traditional Maine Department of Labor functions to private advocacy groups; and,
• Offer little help to employers – in fact, postponed were proposals to make the UI program more effective in getting unemployed workers back to earning paychecks and to make work-share more beneficial to employees and employers.