#LewistonME - #UMaineExtension hosts #vegetable and #fruit school on March 17

Lewiston, Maine — "University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers Association will co-host the Maine Vegetable and Fruit School on Tuesday, March 17, from 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. at the University of Southern Maine – Lewiston Campus, Room 170, 51 Westminster Street.

The day-long program is designed for commercial vegetable and fruit growers, and will focus on pest management and crop production topics. Presentations will include pest management for strawberries, squash, cucumber, garlic, and onions; cherry tomato production, new vegetable varieties, post-harvest handling, and grape potential in New England. Presenters include UMaine Extension faculty and researchers. Pesticide applicator recertification credits and continuing education credits are available.

The $50 registration fee includes a catered lunch. Register by March 12 on the program webpage. Walk-ins are welcome but lunch will not be guaranteed for those participants. In case of bad weather, check the University of Southern Maine weather hotline at 207.780.4800."

Reasonable accomodations are possible.

FMI and to register:
https://extension.umaine.edu/2026/02/13/vegetable-and-fruit-school-march-17/

#SolarPunkSunday #GrowYourOwn #GrowYourOwnFood #GardeningWorkshops #MaineGardening

UMaine Extension hosts vegetable and fruit school on March 17 - University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Lewiston, Maine—University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers Association will co-host the Maine Vegetable and Fruit School on Tuesday, March 17, from 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. at the University of Southern Maine – Lewiston Campus, Room 170, 51 Westminster Street.   The day-long program is designed for commercial vegetable and…

Cooperative Extension

So, knowing the area, my guess is that they want to build this #datacenter in #SanfordME. However, once again, datacenter proponents are like, "Oh hey! We already talked to the Sanford Water District." From the article: "David Parent, superintendent of the Sanford Water District, said he had not heard of any such project." Let me guess. State Senator #MattHarrington got a big fat bonus from the mysterious Datacenter Wizard / Con Artist! Also, both #LewistonME and #WiscassetME have REJECTED datacenters!

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/02/13/is-a-large-data-center-coming-to-southern-maine/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/Wq3U2

#WaterIsLife #NoDatacenters #MainePol #USPol #NoElectricityForDatacenters #NoWaterForDatacenters

Another data center proposed, this time in southern Maine

Sen. Matt Harrington told fellow lawmakers that a proposal is "well along" in the planning process, but details are scant.

The Portland Press Herald

#DemocracyNow - #ImmigrantRights Leader in #Maine Says #ICERaids Caused Panic & “Wave of Fear”

February 03, 2026

"Activists in Maine are resisting #ICE immigration raids in #PortlandME and #LewistonME that the #Trump administration dubbed 'Operation Catch of the Day.' The immigrant community in Maine has grown in recent years, with an influx of #AsylumSeekers and #Somali immigrants in particular. 'As a small state, community means a lot,' says #MufaloChitam, executive director of the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, adding that her organization has received thousands of phone calls to their immigrant support hotline in recent weeks."

Read more / watch / listen:
https://www.democracynow.org/2026/2/3/portland_maine_city_council_ice_lawsuits

#MaineResists #ResistICE #DefundICE #DefundBorderPatrol #MIRC #NewMainers #CatchOfTheDay #ICESucks #ICEOut #ICEOutOfMaine #MaineImmigrantRightsCoalition #ViewerSupportedNews

Immigrant Rights Leader in Maine Says ICE Raids Caused Panic & “Wave of Fear”

Activists in Maine are resisting ICE immigration raids in Portland and Lewiston that the Trump administration dubbed “Operation Catch of the Day.” The immigrant community in Maine has grown in recent years, with an influx of asylum seekers and Somali immigrants in particular. “As a small state, community means a lot,” says Mufalo Chitam, executive director of the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, adding that her organization has received thousands of phone calls to their immigrant support hotline in recent weeks.

Democracy Now!

More than 1,000 rally in #PortlandME against #Trump, #ICE

The protest in Monument Square was just one of many demonstrations across the U.S. on Friday.

by Drew Johnson, January 30, 2026

PORTLAND — "Friday’s protest appeared to be one of the city’s largest in months, dwarfing recent protests that occurred during much warmer weather on hot, sunny summer weekends.

"But it was a frigid January afternoon, and more than 1,000 people turned out anyway. They huddled together, chanting, cheering and holding their signs over the clouds rising from their breaths.

"Real estate was scarce in Monument Square as the demonstrators condemned Trump administration policies, most notably the recent surge of federal immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota and Maine.

"The crowd stretched from One Monument Square to the bus stop across Center Street and lined the opposite side of Congress Street. When they marched, they extended from the square well down Exchange Street. They eventually made it all the way to Commercial Street, with police blocking off roads and forming an escort.

"The protest in Portland was just one of many demonstrations across the U.S. on Friday, which included a general strike where businesses shut down and students walked out of class, from #California, #Arizona and #Colorado, to #Michigan, #Minnesota and Maine.

"More than 200 Maine businesses participated in some capacity, either by closing their doors or donating a portion of profits to groups and organizations helping immigrants. Some businesses lined the square with tables, handing out hot chocolate, coffee and treats to demonstrators. Many area high schoolers — including in Portland and #LewistonME — walked out of or skipped school altogether."

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/01/30/more-than-1000-rally-in-portland-against-trump-ice/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/E7tnG

#USPol #MainePol #ICEOutOfMaine #AbolishICE #MaineResists #ResistICE #DefundICE

More than 1,000 rally in Portland against Trump, ICE

The protest in Monument Square was just one of many demonstrations across the U.S. on Friday.

The Portland Press Herald

#LewistonME High School students march in protest of #ICE

At the end of classes Friday, the group of about 60 made the march, holding up signs and stopping now and then to chant at passing traffic.

by Mark LaFlamme, January 30, 2026

LEWISTON — "It was bitter cold and windy Friday afternoon, but Lewiston High School student Evelyn Lenhert wouldn’t have dreamed of missing the #AntiICE protest.

"She feels too passionately about it. She’s too concerned about the prospect of ICE taking away her classmates and their families.

" 'I’m out here,' the freshman said, 'because I fear for the safety of my friends. ICE could come at any second and I’m just very scared about it.'

"Lenhert was one of several dozen students who made the march from the high school on East Avenue to Kennedy Park at Pine and Park streets.

"At the end of classes about 2 p.m., the group of about 60 began walking, holding up signs and stopping now and then to chant at passing traffic.

" 'No justice, no peace,' they chanted, 'get ICE off the streets!' "

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/01/30/lewiston-high-school-students-march-in-protest-of-ice/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/jZYEg

#USPol #MainePol #ICEOutOfMaine #AbolishICE #MaineResists #ResistICE #DefundICE

Lewiston High School students march in protest of ICE

At the end of classes Friday, the group of about 60 made the march, holding up signs and stopping now and then to chant at passing traffic.

The Portland Press Herald

#PortlandME and #LewistonMe are bracing for #ICE to come to their cities

By Sawyer Loftus, Bangor Daily News
moc.swenyliadrognab@sutfols
Published on: January 14, 2026

"Carl Sheline urged residents and businesses to know their rights and have a plan if they’re contacted by agents."

https://themainemonitor.org/portland-lewiston-bracing-for-ice/

#KYR #ICEOutMaine #ICEOut #KnowYourRights #Bystanders #Whistles #NoHumanIsIllegal #MainePol #USPol #ICESucks

Portland and Lewiston are bracing for ICE to come to their cities

Carl Sheline urged residents and businesses to know their rights and have a plan if they’re contacted by agents.

The Maine Monitor

So, I hung out with one of my DJ friends last night. He's been rather quiet on Meta/FB/IG, but he's been very active on Signal! He and his friends were the ones leaking info about the plans for the #Datacenter in #LewistonME, and their efforts stopped it in its tracks!

#AISucks #AIDatacenters

#LewistonME votes down #AI #DataCenter after public outcry

One councilor said the data center proposal for Bates Mill No. 3 yielded ‘by far’ the most public feedback he’s received on a single issue.

“It will house no one, feed no one, provide no beauty, and enrich no one’s lives, only the developer’s pockets. The downtown should be for people, not machines.”
—Jae Zimmermann, Lewiston resident

by Andrew Rice, December 17, 2025

"A plan for placing a $300 million artificial intelligence data center at Lewiston’s Bates Mill complex faced a wave of opposition Tuesday and was unanimously voted down by the City Council.

"Since the proposal to redevelop Bates Mill No. 3 into an 85,000-square-foot data center became public last week, city officials have been flooded with feedback from constituents, with many questioning whether the deal is worth it for Lewiston.

"Before the standing-room-only crowd could even begin public comment Tuesday, councilors said they would vote against the project due to the overwhelming outcry over the weekend and lingering questions about the project.

"The proposal by MillCompute LLC called for developing a 'Tier III' AI data center on two floors of the mill, with the upper two floors becoming 'modern office/innovation space for technology companies' and more.

However, officials have faced questions about the group behind the proposal, a tax deal that’s seen as favorable to the developer, and a storm of concerns over potential utility usage and environmental impacts that mirrors a national debate over the rise of AI data centers."

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2025/12/16/lewiston-votes-down-ai-data-center-project-after-public-outcry/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/US5AR

#MaineResists #MaineResistsAI #AIDatacenters #ArtistsNotAI #ResistAI #ResistDatacenters

Lewiston votes down AI data center after public outcry

One councilor said the data center proposal for Bates Mill No. 3 yielded 'by far' the most public feedback he's received on a single issue.

The Portland Press Herald

#Maine - Some #LewistonME elected leaders, community members condemn #Trump's attack on #Somali #immigrants

Maine Public | By Ari Snider
Published December 3, 2025

"After President Donald Trump called Somali immigrants quote 'garbage' this week, some in Maine's Somali community fear the rhetoric could spark violence.

"During a cabinet meeting Tuesday, Trump said he doesn't want Somali immigrants to be in the U.S. at all.

"It comes as immigration agents are launching an operation in #Minnesota, reportedly targeting the state's large Somali population.

"In Lewiston, Somali interpreter and nonprofit director Ifraax Saciid-Ciise said the president's attacks are jarring.

" 'I find it very hard to believe that president, who is supposed to represent everybody, all the people in the United States, [would] target a group of very vulnerable population here in America,' Saciid-Ciise said.

"She said many in the community worry Trump's words could incite violence or harassment against Somali residents.

" 'It has created a lot of fear,' she said, because people unfamiliar with the Somali community 'may take his words as real, and as a fact, and they may also target the Somali people.'

"Safiya Khalid, who served as the first Somali-American on the Lewiston city council, said in a social media post that she was quote 'deeply offended and disgusted' by the president's attacks, and called on state and local elected leaders to stand up for their Somali constituents.

"Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline called the president's assertion that Somali immigrants contribute nothing to society 'shameful and inaccurate.'

" 'Here, Somali entrepreneurs are business owners and hard workers, creating jobs and strengthening our local economy,' Sheline said in a written statement on Wednesday. 'Their active role within our City has been instrumental in Lewiston's revitalization, making such rhetoric not only cruel but clearly false. We will continue to celebrate the contributions of all immigrants who help build a better America.'

"In a joint letter on Thursday, Democratic state representatives Mana Abdi, Deqa Dhalac, and Yusuf Yusuf also condemned Trump's statements and efforts to roll back legal protections for some Somali immigrants.

" 'The vast majority of people affected by this administration’s immigration policies are law-abiding individuals who are legitimately working to attain citizenship. Many have called #America their home for decades, raising families, contributing to our economy, and strengthening our communities,' they wrote.

Read more / listen:
https://www.mainepublic.org/immigration/2025-12-03/some-lewiston-elected-leaders-community-members-condemn-trumps-attack-on-somali-immigrants

#USPol #NewMainers #SomaliAmericans #ICERaids #ICESucks #CharacteristicsOfFascism

Some Lewiston elected leaders, community members condemn Trump's attack on Somali immigrants

During a cabinet meeting this week, President Donald Trump referred to Somali immigrants as "garbage."

WMEH

2025 - 2025 #WarmingShelters

On September 23, Governor Janet Mills and MaineHousing announced $2.3 million in state grants to support the operation of 12 overnight emergency warming centers in seven Maine counties this winter. The following warming centers will operate during the 2025 - 2026 winter season:

Bangor Area Homeless Shelter - #BangorME
City of Portland - #PortlandME
City of Sanford - #SanfordME
Healthy Acadia - #EllsworthME
Homeless Services of Aroostook - #AroostookME
Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter - #WatervilleME
New Beginnings - #LewistonME
Seeds of Hope - #BiddefordME
Augusta Emergency Overnight Warming Center - #AugustaME
State Street Church - #PortlandME
Tedford - #BrunswickME

Source:
https://www.mainehousing.org/news/public-notices/2025---2025-warming-shelters

@newsbot

#Unhoused #Homeless #ArcticBlast #WarmingCenters #Maine #ExtremeCold #Houseless #PolarVortex

2025 - 2025 Warming Shelters