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Friday, April 10, 2026 Volume 21 • Issue No. 15
E-Waste Electronics Recycling and Food Drive Event ELIOT Ahead of Earth Day on April 22, Haven Homes & Lifestyle at Keller Williams Coastal and Lakes & Mountains Realty has announced its second annual e-waste recycling event, scheduled for Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to noon at Eliot Commons, 28 Levesque Drive in Eliot. The event is open to all—keep a lookout for Stella the Airstream on site! Haven Homes encourages the public to bring old electronics to help reduce landfill waste. Accepted items include flatscreen
TVs, cellphones, laptops, monitors, VCR/DVD/CD players, keyboards, tablets, small electronics and appliances, chargers, cords and wires, routers, printers, computers and hard drives, copiers, scanners, air conditioning units, stereos, radios, power tools and speaker equipment. Recycling is provided by North Coast Services. Freon-containing items such as air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and old tube TVs will incur an additional $25 per-item recycling fee. “Pay what you can” donations will also be accepted
for recycled items. Proceeds will support Mainspring Collective, a Kittery-based social services hub that brings multiple nonprofit partners together to provide coordinated support for those in need, including housing assistance, food access, and health services. In addition to electronics collection and recycling, Haven Homes is also holding a “Fill the Shelves” food drive to support Footprints Food Pantry, a local nonprofit organization that provides food and support to area See E-WASTE on page 2...
Working Waterfront Expo at KCC KITTERY The Kittery Expo is back! After a successful event last year highlighting aquaculture, this year’s expo is expanding to celebrate more aspects of the Seacoast’s working waterfront and the industries that support it. The event takes place Thursday, April 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Kittery Community Center, 120 Rogers Road. The free, family-friendly
event offers a chance to learn about industries, businesses, careers and organizations connected to the local waterfront, which plays a key role in the region’s coastal economy. Attendees will also have a chance to meet fishermen, aquaculture professionals, researchers, farmers, and others who help sustain that economy. The event is designed to be interactive, with opportunities to engage directly with local orga-
nizations and businesses. Event highlights include visiting tables from waterfront groups, earning raffle entries by getting an event card stamped at each table, free raffles and giveaways, working waterfront–themed face painting and temporary tattoos for children, and limited goodie bags available. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/KitteryWaterfront2026.
Maine Legislature Approves Plug-In Home Solar Bill STATEWIDE The Maine Legislature gave final approval Thursday, April 2, to a bill that would allow Maine residents to install
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compact plug-in solar systems in homes and apartments with the assistance of a licensed electrician. The measure, LD 1730, now moves to the governor’s desk. The bipartisan legislation aims to expand access to smallscale solar technology that can connect directly to standard outdoor electrical outlets, allowing users to generate electricity onsite and reduce reliance on the power grid. Plug-in solar systems originated in Germany and have been widely adopted across Europe. The systems have since been adapted to meet U.S. electrical standards and are designed for residential use. Under the bill, installation must be completed by a licensed electrician, due to differences in residential electrical systems and safety considerations for both consumers and utility line
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workers. The Office of the Public Advocate estimates that a 1,200watt plug-in solar system could reduce an average Maine household’s electricity costs by nearly 20%, or about $388 per year. “Plug-in solar opens the door for every Mainer, regardless of their income or housing
type, to participate in our clean energy future,” said Beth Woolfolk of A Climate to Thrive. “[This bill] gives people real power to lower their bills and take meaningful steps toward their own energy independence without unnecessary utility barriers.” More than 70% of Main-
ers report diff iculty paying their electricity bills, and Central Maine Power rates have increased 68% over the past five years, according to Public Utilities Commission Commissioner Patrick Scully. He said rising oil and gas prices drive higher electricity costs in Maine, with low-income households affected most. He added that expanding renewable energy sources of all sizes could help reduce exposure to price increases. “We are excited to see ratepayers empowered to take control of their electricity costs in the face of the current affordability crisis exacerbated by utilities’ high profit margins,” said Amy Eshoo of Maine Climate Action Now. Once the bill is signed, Maine residents will be able to install small plug-in solar kits See SOLAR on page 10...
Photo by A Climate to Thrive.
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