SADC serves to elect Municipal, County, State Democrats.

From school board and committee member Terry Noyes--Some Sorrento citizens led by this organization have introduced a concept that the town withdraw from RSU 24. https://maine.parentsrightsineducation.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0m-75KW-m60c0ktQZhERe4E18MbjOA-alSHnok__7MZnn1RCdC0DTx_Q0_aem_Eu7Hs5YQKUf4qEAp17zLTQ 

From school board and committee member Crystal Burke:

"There is a federal mandate; there needs to be access to free education for children who are unable to attend school for health safety reasons, but Hancock Grammar School is in violation of that mandate. Their environment is still unsafe for students with compromised immune systems.
Now that Covid has been declared no longer a health crisis, remote learning is not being provided and home schooling is very expensive for children below seventh grade. Something needs to happen as there are currently no options for high risk children (emergency legislation to lower the remote ed service age)." 

https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/02/22/politics/washington/usda-launches-review-of-umaine-for-possible-title-ix-violations/

Maine is facing challenges in special education funding due to federal cuts and local budget constraints:

• Federal Cuts: The U.S. Department of Education is reducing funding, which could impact individualized education plans for students with disabilities.
• Local Budget Reductions: Maine School Administrative District 11 cut $2.3 million from its budget, eliminating six teaching positions and five education technicians, affecting special education services.
• State Funding Challenges: While Maine now funds 55% of K-12 education, disparities remain, especially in special education and school maintenance.
• Potential Property Tax Increases: Federal cuts could lead to higher local taxes to compensate for lost funding.

These changes could affect students with disabilities, school staffing, and overall accessibility. 

Important Hancock Planning Board Meeting June 11 will include:

Old Business: Postpone/Reschedule Public Hearing of Mineral Extraction

application from Godwin (due to failure to advertise in time)

7. Old Business: Mineral extraction application from Dirigo Materials Dow Property

8. Old Business: Request of Selectboard for rezoning of former Tannery site

9. New Business: Workshop meeting for ECO and other ordinance updates

LD 2003: Like It or Lump It

Hancock Planning Board member Ant Blasi raised the following regarding adopting the proposed amendments to the Environmental Control Ordinance that are based on the increased  housing density law, LD 2003, at its August 28 

Public Hearing:

Why we  were putting the cart before the horse by adopting and amending

ordinances before we have a new Comprehensive Plan.    Resident Chris Blodgett said it was important for Town residents to understand where the

designated growth areas are, and how it affects them. Several members of the Planning

Board and the audience stressed the importance of circulating maps that outline the

Designated Growth Areas, although what these areas were, are or will be is uncertain. 

The new regulations passed without a Designated Growth Area in place at an 11/6/24 Town Meeting, with Ant one of 2 voting to oppose these zoning amendments.

 The Code Enforcement Officer should not issue building permits that authorize Designated Growth Area criteria just anywhere in town under a false interpretation that Maine law allows them on any lot,  even when there is no approved Designated Growth Area.

The Planning Board  faces 2 requests from the Selectboard to draft zoning amendments

1.  to add outdoor recreational facilities like miniature golf courses, tennis courts, amusement and theme parks, water slides, zoos/animal parks, race tracks, speedways, motorcycle tracks, and riding stables to the commercial zone on Route One  from Viking to the Ellsworth City Line.  These uses were voted down at the September 15, 2021 Special Town Meeting.   

Why is "Paper Roads" controversial?   Regardless of the reason, Grundel was not hired to do the survey and final street grid layout.  This work was done by a local surveyor named Gilbert E Simpson.  Later sections of the development, including Doane’s Pt., are better quality surveys and are referenced on deeds as “The Simpson Plan.”   While the first Simpson Plan and the Grundel Plan for Bean Point are similar, Simpson's was the one used for most real estate transfers and is more detailed, although perhaps less artistic. 

 Grundel's plan shows his ideas for creating sweeping non-linear avenues.  His design concept for several streets radiating like spokes from the top of the hill -- above where the pool is today -- and down to the back bay, are particularly striking.  Perhaps like the Boston commissioners, Grundel's plan was found to be impractical, especially since he seems to have created a plan for pieces of land that Lewis had not yet purchased. 

A discussion of paper 'streets,' appears as of 9/25/24 on Friends of Sorrento Facebook Page: 

The Quietside Journal (published in Mount Desert) posted a warning article

https://open.substack.com/pub/theqsjournal/p/state-peddling-coastal-towns-to-fish?r=iw8pe&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

listing these towns as desired fish farm locations by the state Economic Development department (due to deep water availability): 

Gouldsboro

Hancock

Sorrento