QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The thing that bugs me is the homogenization of architecture — these [new] buildings don’t mesh with our traditional architecture. It’s the same everywhere, not just Portland. Its vernacular architecture is losing out to cheap buildings because of fast profit and a lack of craftsmanship.”

— Mark Marchesi on Portland’s changing architecture.

TODAY’S TOP MAINE STORIES

Mainers are growing older while facing skyrocketing long-term care insurance premiums. After years of increases, half of the state’s residents with long-term care insurance face pending rate hikes.

Last year, many people trying to watch Bangor’s Fourth of July fireworks could only see the very tops of them. The city is taking steps to not repeat the same issues.

Only three people entered this home lottery in Maine’s priciest town. Officials are at a loss as to why so few families applied to the lottery to win it.

Maine’s fire marshal said staff morale was improving. But emails obtained by the Bangor Daily News call into question how much has changed in the office since lawmakers reviewed the agency.

This photographer has chronicled Portland’s gentrifying face. Since 2009, he’s been photographing the buildings and neighborhoods that made Portland feel authentic. 

MAINE IN PICTURES

Nathan Broaddus points out the depth of compost in the tomato beds at Farthest Field Farm in Freeport. The 2-year-old no-till farm, focused on growing tomatoes and peppers for the owners’ line of hot sauces, is one of numerous new operations in the state reducing or eliminating the presence of the plow. Credit: Elizabeth Walztoni / BDN

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE 

FROM THE OPINION PAGES  

“Americans are yearning to vote for someone and not just vote against someone else. A majority of voters couldn’t be any more clear on that.”

Opinion: The Biden-Harris ticket isn’t up to challenge facing democracy

LIFE IN MAINE

There’s no such thing as bad soil, just soil that doesn’t do what people want it to. More Maine farmers are turning to no-till practices to improve the quality of their land.

The removal of a more than 200-year-old dam is reopening a major spawning ground for wild salmon. Biologists hope that a self-sustaining population of fully wild salmon will take hold again in Sebago Lake.

Getting off the beaten track in Maine doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice the little comforts. Julia Bayly writes about her evolution from camping minimalist to outdoor hedonist.