QUOTE OF THE DAY

“There are a lot of folks that are concerned and a lot that are not. When you realize that you probably inhaled PFAS all of your life if you had a Scotchgard carpet or couch or a Northface jacket or used mascara and lipstick that’s waterproof, it’s in absolutely everything. Unfortunately, there are a lot of questions that just can’t be answered.”

— Fairfield Town Manager Michelle Flewelling on how, despite publicity about PFAS pollution in the town, home sale values have remained high.

TODAY’S TOP MAINE STORIES

“Forever chemicals” aren’t slowing Maine’s hot real estate market. While the stigma may concern some people, it hasn’t stopped buyers, one real estate agent told the Bangor Daily News. 

A new basement cocktail lounge is coming to downtown Bangor. Local developers and a former co-owner of a shuttered Bangor restaurant are behind Barliman’s.

Nordic Aquafarms is suing Belfast after the city withdrew its support. Until recently, the city had been a steadfast backer of Nordic’s plans for a $500 million land-based salmon farm.

What does Red Lobster’s bankruptcy mean for Maine? Local dealers typically keep their sales volumes private, but a representative called the restaurant chain “a big buyer.”

Wiscasset school leaders are hoping for stability after a turbulent year. The firing of the middle-high school principal last fall divided the community, and the district is contending with other staff turnover.

MAINE IN PICTURES

Belfast native Syd Sanders wears a Palestinian keffiyeh and holds his senior thesis during a protest at Harvard University earlier this month. Harvard chose to withhold Sanders’ diploma for his part in the protest. Sanders told the Bangor Daily News he doesn’t regret protesting at all. Credit: Courtesy of Syd Sanders

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE 

FROM THE OPINION PAGES 

“Gershkovich is already a political prisoner of Putin. He deserves much better than to be treated as a political pawn by Trump, the Republican candidate for president this fall.”

Editorial: If Trump can get Evan Gershkovich released, he should do it now

LIFE IN MAINE

Kevin McKay had always wanted to go fly fishing with his dad on Secret Pond. That never happened, but on a recent trip to the fishing spot, he netted a magnificent brookie. 

A remote mountain in Maine’s famous 100-Mile Wilderness offers what BDN Outdoors contributor Aislinn Sarnacki calls some of the best views in Maine.

Anyone who spends time in the Maine woods knows our coyotes are thriving. But pure wolves are unlikely ever to return to Maine, V. Paul Reynolds writes.