Category: News

One Area Code Continues to Cover Maine

Image: Renee Morin By Carolyn Cadigan The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) announced on April 29 that Maine’s 207 area code will be preserved as the state’s one and only area code until 2045. The North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) released an updated forecast, determining a second area code would not be needed for 20 years. NANPA previously projected the 207 area code would be exhausted in 2036. The PUC has been fighting to keep Maine’s lone area code.…

Shelter Agency Shutting Down Services 

Resident Joanne Goodreau said she’s nervous about the future.  Photo: Lee Burnett  By Lee Burnett  York County Shelter Programs laid off 20 of its 70 employees Thursday and announced a major suspension of its anti-poverty operations.  The agency is working with allied agencies to find alternative housing for residents of its emergency shelters in Sanford and Alfred. Partner agencies include York County Community Action Corp., Caring Unlimited, Sanford Housing Authority, and United Way of Southern Maine.   It is still unclear…

Beware of Online Pharmacies 

Adapted from SES, StopElderlyScams.com   Prescription drugs can be very costly, so more and more people are turning to online pharmacies to save money. Statistics show that there are roughly 35,000 online pharmacies worldwide and a very high percentage of them are operating illegally. These fake pharmacies target seniors because they make up around 70% of outpatient prescriptions.   Keep these tips in mind when looking for a legitimate pharmacy:  Only buy from online pharmacies that require a prescription from your doctor. …

Do You Need a Real ID?

Photo: State of Maine Department of the Secretary of State By Kendra Williams According to the Maine Secretary of State, the deadline to obtain a Real ID is quickly approaching. Beginning May 7, standard Maine driver's licenses and state IDs will no longer be accepted for federal purposes, such as boarding domestic flights or entering certain federal facilities. An unexpired passport or passport card, a foreign passport or immigration document will also be accepted for these purposes. You are not required…

Job Jitters at the Shipyard 

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard  Photo: Naval Sea Systems Command  By Lee Burnett  Employees at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery are bracing for mass layoffs dictated by the Trump administration. No one yet knows the breadth of the job cuts, but directives have been coming from multiple federal offices.  “It’s caused so much chaos and confusion,” said Alana Schaeffer, president of the Metal Trades Council, the shipyard’s largest union.  The shipyard is one of four remaining government-owned shipyards in the country and…