Bangor, Maine News Update: May 19, 2021

The Maine CDC reports 200 new cases of COVID-19 and 2 people, diagnosed with the virus, who have died. As of Tuesday afternoon, 1,316, 141 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 675,792 first doses. 640,349 people have been fully vaccinated.

The federal government has seized $3.6 million from the bank account of a company involved in a deal to sell $4.5 million in overpriced counterfeit N95 masks to the state of Maine. The U.S. attorney is seeking to force the company, Med Tech Resource LLC of Eugene, Oregon to also reimburse the state for 1.8 million fake respirators. According to the AP, the company’s CEO has already said that he will refund the state of Maine.

Developers of the $1 billion New England Clean Energy Connect will have to cease tree cutting on a key stretch of the project for two months, in order to protect the newly-born young of a federally protected bat. Operations will have to suspend for the months of June and July, when the pups of  of Northern Long-Eared Bats are born and cannot yet fly. The bats, who live in trees rather than caves, have been hard-hit by white nose syndrome.

The Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township said Monday that it has reacquired 140 acres of ancestral lands on an island in Big Lake, that it says is historically significant to its members. The BDN reports the tribe worked with First Light and the Nature Conservancy to regain control of the property, that was most recently listed for $448,000 dollars.

Northern Light Acadia Hospital will hold a Ride and Apply hiring event this Thursday afternoon for food service and patient care tech positions. Job seekers are invited to drive up and apply for the jobs between 1 and 6 Thursday, at 797 Wilson Street in Brewer, across from Lowe’s. Find more information at Northern Light health dot org slash careers.

The Bucksport Garden Club will hold their annual Spring plant and pie sale this Saturday, at 74 Main Street, across from Community Pharmacy. The public is invited to stop by for perennials, plants, bulbs, pies, baked goods, books, raffle items, and more. Find more information on the Bucksport Garden Club Facebook page.