Former Maine CDC director running for Governor<\/b><\/p>\n
Dr. Nirav Shah, Maine\u2019s former Center for Disease Control and Prevention director and former principal deputy director of the U.S. CDC, announced his run for Maine governor as a Democrat.<\/span><\/p>\n Gov. Janet Mills appointed Shah to be director of the Maine CDC in 2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He was a familiar face in Maine while providing daily updates through press briefings during the COVID pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n He is currently a visiting professor at Colby College.<\/span><\/p>\n He joins an already crowded field in the race for governor.<\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.wabi.tv\/2025\/10\/20\/former-maine-cdc-director-shah-running-governor\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Ellsworth secures land acquisitions and DEP approval for Hancock County Courthouse project<\/b><\/p>\n For more than 100 years, the Hancock County Courthouse has been off of State Street in Ellsworth, not just as a home to the law, but a historical staple in the area.<\/span><\/p>\n It took months to figure out the right path forward for a new building.<\/span><\/p>\n Now, Ellsworth has secured the next step in building the $55 million Hancock County Courthouse on the Merrill Lane Extension off of High Street right behind Merrill Furniture.<\/span><\/p>\n Multiple businesses and families with private land have contributed parcels or funding to the project according to the Ellsworth city manager, Charlie Pearce.<\/span><\/p>\n Crews are already working at the site, boundary marking, clearing the site and completing road based preparation, and they’ll be here doing that for the next coming weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n The latest update from city officials in Ellsworth is that they will be up and running in early 2028 for finalized construction and open for business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Blue Hill filling key staff positions for the town<\/b><\/p>\n Open positions for the town of Blue Hill have impacted future projects, according to the Bangor Daily news.<\/span><\/p>\n Officials tell the Bangor Daily News at a select board meeting, it was discussed how lapses in staffing, particularly with the code enforcement officer, have caused delays and errors that hold up permit applications.<\/span><\/p>\n Since then the town has filled the clerk, code enforcement officer position and treasurer however the town administrator and deputy clerk positions are still open.<\/span><\/p>\n The paper says the staffing shortage has forced operations to run three days a week instead of five, however as new staff catches up with what\u2019s ahead they\u2019re hoping to open during normal hours soon.<\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.bangordailynews.com\/2025\/10\/20\/hancock\/hancock-government\/blue-hill-maine-town-office-vacancies-filled\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Two Maine towns reporting rabies in raccoons<\/b><\/p>\n Two Maine towns are telling residents to exercise caution after confirmed cases of rabies were reported in raccoons according to WABI news.<\/span><\/p>\n The Maine CDC notified the town of Howland last week that a confirmed case of rabies in a raccoon has been identified.<\/span><\/p>\n The town of Deer Isle also says they have confirmed one case of a rabid raccoon along with several unconfirmed cases of potentially rabid raccoons.<\/span><\/p>\n Deer Isle says these reports are widespread.<\/span><\/p>\n Both towns say to make sure pets are vaccinated and registered, and any wild animal that seems to be acting strange should be reported to your local Game Warden.<\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.wabi.tv\/2025\/10\/20\/two-maine-towns-reporting-confirmed-cases-rabies-raccoons\/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=organicclicks&tbref=hp<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n \u2018Coats of Kindness\u2019 Drive kicks off to keep Mainers warm<\/b><\/p>\n Temperatures are starting to drop however many families across the state could face the cold without essential clothing for the season.<\/span><\/p>\n That\u2019s why Penquis has kicked off their \u2018Coats of Kindness\u2019 program again this year, according to WABI news.<\/span><\/p>\n The official collection begins November 1, but a soft launch will help spread the word early.<\/span><\/p>\n To give back, community members can donate gently worn coats of all sizes at any Gold Star Cleaners location in Penobscot county.<\/span><\/p>\n Each coat will be professionally cleaned free of charge before being distributed.<\/span><\/p>\n You can drop off your coats at Gold Star Cleaners in Bangor, either Brewer location, Lincoln, Orono or Old Town.<\/span><\/p>\n 220 Union Street, Bangor<\/b><\/p>\n Brewer Shopping Center, Brewer<\/b><\/p>\n 200 Wilson Street, Brewer<\/b><\/p>\n Corner of Main & Depot, Lincoln<\/b><\/p>\n University Mall, Orono<\/b><\/p>\n Old Town Plaza, Old Town<\/b><\/p>\n