AUBURN, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — A Lewiston man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the suffocation death of his infant son was sentenced to 20 years in prison, all but 15 years removed, on Tuesday. 

Following his prison sentence, Danny Adams will spend six years on probation. 

26 year-old Adams has been in jail since he entered the guilty plea in February, 2017. 

Previously stated as being 14-weeks-old at the time of his death, the judge clarified on Tuesday that the infant, Zade Adams, was only 11-weeks-old when when he was found unresponsive in his crib on December 14, 2014 at an apartment Adams shared with the baby’s mother. The baby was pronounced dead at the scene after first responders called to the apartment applied live-saving measures, but were unsuccessful. 

The State Medical Examiner and Maine State Police determined that Zade Adams died of asphyxiation.

Victim Advocate, Laura Mintzer, read a statement to the court from Zade’s mother that read in part, “I can’t stop thinking about Zade and what he went through. Such a beautiful and innocent life ended before it could really begin.”

Adams told police he forced

Article source: http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/lewiston-man-who-pleaded-guilty-to-suffocating-son-with-pacifier-gets/452412449

By Mark Pecheniknews@seacoastonline.com

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — Stating he has “recently been made aware of several growth facilities,” Town Council Chairman Russell Abel urged his fellow councilors to approve a moratorium on medical marijuana cultivation in town during the council’s meeting Tuesday.

Abell cited several health and safety concerns associated with growing medical marijuana. These include use of caustic chemicals and gases such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide which, Abell maintained, “if they were to escape from a building could cause an unsafe situation for neighbors.”

“We’ve been caught off-guard and have allowed this non-conforming use in town,” he said.

Through a moratorium, said Abell, the council could determine “ordinance rules and what is the safe and appropriate land use in town” for medical marijuana facilities. For instance, he cited a recent court ruling where production of medical marijuana was determined to be a manufacturing, rather than an agricultural, operation. Such reclassification could allow the town to have more control over cultivation of cannabis for medical use.

Abell emphasized he is not against the production of medical marijuana. “Personally, I am in favor for allowing these uses in town as long as they are in the right areas and safety measures are put in place.”

Town Manager Perry Ellsworth indicated he would arrange consultation between the council and town attorney to determine the town’s legal standing on this issue.

“I can set up an executive session right after the Fourth of July holiday,” he said.

Prior to the medical marijuana discussion, the

Article source: http://www.fosters.com/news/20170627/south-berwick-councilor-sounds-alarm-on-medical-marijuana-operations

Alex LaCasse @Nomad_Reports

KITTERY, Maine — The town’s marijuana working group will host another forum on the legalization of recreational marijuana on Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Traip Academy gymnasium

The June 29 forum will feature several experienced marijuana providers and advocates to explain what residents can expect when marijuana becomes commercially available for retail purchase in February.

“This is the second phase of our public presentation. We did one back in May and that was from the National Marijuana Initiative that was about the sort of challenges and concerns about the legalization of marijuana,” Town Manager Kendra Amaral said at Monday’s Town Council meeting. Amaral also serves on the town’s working group.

“This is going to be a presentation from those in the marijuana industry,” she said. “This is the other perspective because we wanted to give people a balance.”

The panel will feature Joseph Lusardi, executive director of Maine Organic Therapy, and a licensed grower and dispenser in Maine. Lusardi operates a grow facility in Biddeford and a medical marijuana dispensary in Ellsworth. In 2010, Maine Organic Therapy was the first licensed medical marijuana dispensary to open in Maine after medical marijuana was legalized in 2009.

Other panelists will include David Boyer, Maine political director for the Marijuana Policy Project, which was one of the entities that advanced the legalization ballot initiative in Maine. The third panelist is Anthony Dalessandro, president and founder of Trillium Botanicals. Dalessandro is a licensed medical marijuana caregiver in Maine

Article source: http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20170627/kittery-to-host-next-marijuana-talk-on-thursday

By Mark Pecheniknews@seacoastonline.com

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — Stating he has “recently been made aware of several growth facilities,” Town Council Chairman Russell Abel urged his fellow councilors to approve a moratorium on medical marijuana cultivation in town during the council’s meeting Tuesday.

Abell cited several health and safety concerns associated with growing medical marijuana. These include use of caustic chemicals and gases such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide which, Abell maintained, “if they were to escape from a building could cause an unsafe situation for neighbors.”

“We’ve been caught off-guard and have allowed this non-conforming use in town,” he said.

Through a moratorium, said Abell, the council could determine “ordinance rules and what is the safe and appropriate land use in town” for medical marijuana facilities. For instance, he cited a recent court ruling where production of medical marijuana was determined to be a manufacturing, rather than an agricultural, operation. Such reclassification could allow the town to have more control over cultivation of cannabis for medical use.

Abell emphasized he is not against the production of medical marijuana. “Personally, I am in favor for allowing these uses in town as long as they are in the right areas and safety measures are put in place.”

Town Manager Perry Ellsworth indicated he would arrange consultation between the council and town attorney to determine the town’s legal standing on this issue.

“I can set up an executive session right after the Fourth of July holiday,” he said.

Prior to the medical marijuana discussion, the

Article source: http://www.fosters.com/news/20170627/south-berwick-councilor-sounds-alarm-on-medical-marijuana-operations

By Mark Pecheniknews@seacoastonline.com

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — Stating that he has “recently been made aware of several growth facilities,” Town Council Chairperson Russell Abel urged his fellow councilors to approve a moratorium on medical marijuana cultivation in town during the council’s meeting on Tuesday night.

Abell cited several health and safety concerns associated with growing medical marijuana for his action. These include use of caustic chemicals and gases such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide which, Abell maintained, “if they were to escape from a building could cause an unsafe situation for neighbors.”

“We’ve been caught off-guard and have allowed this non-conforming use in town,” stated Abell.

Through a moratorium, said Abell, the council could determine “ordinance rules and what is the safe and appropriate land use in town” for medical marijuana facilities.

For instance, the council chairperson cited a recent court ruling where production of medical marijuana was determined to be a manufacturing, rather than an agricultural, operation. Such reclassification could allow the town to have more control over the cultivation of cannabis for medical use.

Despite his concerns, however, Abell emphasized that he is not against the production of medical marijuana. “Personally, I am in favor for allowing these uses in town as long as they are in the right areas and safety measures are put in place.”

In response, South Berwick Town Manager Perry Ellsworth indicated that he would arrange consultation between the council and the town attorney to determine South Berwick’s legal standing on this issue.

“I can

Article source: http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20170627/south-berwick-councilor-sounds-alarm-on-medical-marijuana-operations

Alex LaCasse @Nomad_Reports

KITTERY, Maine — The town’s marijuana working group will host another forum on the legalization of recreational marijuana on Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Traip Academy gymnasium

The June 29 forum will feature several experienced marijuana providers and advocates to explain what residents can expect when marijuana becomes commercially available for retail purchase in February.

“This is the second phase of our public presentation. We did one back in May and that was from the National Marijuana Initiative that was about the sort of challenges and concerns about the legalization of marijuana,” Town Manager Kendra Amaral said at Monday’s Town Council meeting. Amaral also serves on the town’s working group.

“This is going to be a presentation from those in the marijuana industry,” she said. “This is the other perspective because we wanted to give people a balance.”

The panel will feature Joseph Lusardi, executive director of Maine Organic Therapy, and a licensed grower and dispenser in Maine. Lusardi operates a grow facility in Biddeford and a medical marijuana dispensary in Ellsworth. In 2010, Maine Organic Therapy was the first licensed medical marijuana dispensary to open in Maine after medical marijuana was legalized in 2009.

Other panelists will include David Boyer, Maine political director for the Marijuana Policy Project, which was one of the entities that advanced the legalization ballot initiative in Maine. The third panelist is Anthony Dalessandro, president and founder of Trillium Botanicals. Dalessandro is a licensed medical marijuana caregiver in Maine

Article source: http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20170627/kittery-to-host-next-marijuana-talk-on-thursday

AUBURN, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — A Lewiston man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the suffocation death of his infant son was sentenced to 20 years in prison, all but 15 years removed, on Tuesday. 

Following his prison sentence, Danny Adams will spend six years on probation. 

26 year-old Adams has been in jail since he entered the guilty plea in February, 2017. 

Previously stated as being 14-weeks-old at the time of his death, the judge clarified on Tuesday that the infant, Zade Adams, was only 11-weeks-old when when he was found unresponsive in his crib on December 14, 2014 at an apartment Adams shared with the baby’s mother. The baby was pronounced dead at the scene after first responders called to the apartment applied live-saving measures, but were unsuccessful. 

The State Medical Examiner and Maine State Police determined that Zade Adams died of asphyxiation.

Victim Advocate, Laura Mintzer, read a statement to the court from Zade’s mother that read in part, “I can’t stop thinking about Zade and what he went through. Such a beautiful and innocent life ended before it could really begin.”

Adams told police he forced

Article source: http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/lewiston-man-who-pleaded-guilty-to-suffocating-son-with-pacifier-gets/452412449

The Wiscasset School Department’s proposed $1.75 million energy conservation performance contract, the town planner’s budget and two social service requests were voted down at Wiscasset’s annual town meeting by referendum Tuesday, June 13.

All other warrant articles were approved, including an article introduced by citizen’s petition asking if voters reject changes to the Maine Department of Transportation’s downtown traffic project, a new disorderly house ordinance, the sale of an Old Ferry Road lot to Central Maine Power Co. for a new substation and a moratorium on recreational marijuana establishments.

The $9.4 million Wiscasset School Department budget with the estimated first payment of the energy project included was approved by an overwhelming majority, but the energy project was defeated 384-329.

“I’m surprised at the short-sightedness of voters,” Wiscasset School Committee member Jason Putnam said. “This is going to cost the town thousands in lost energy savings. Once again children are getting thrown under the bus.”

The results of the vote were “disappointing,” Superintendent Heather Wilmot said. “We have a large need to address our students’ learning environment. Doing it through energy savings would have been the most cost-effective way.”

A letter of intent was signed with Siemens Inc. when the energy audit of school buildings was conducted in 2016. The Wiscasset School Department must pay about $15,000 for the energy audit, which it would not have had to pay if the energy project was completed, Wilmot said.

The $69,500 that was incorporated into the school budget to cover the estimated first-year payment of the energy contract will

Article source: http://bangordailynews.com/2017/06/14/news/midcoast/wiscasset-voters-reject-school-energy-project-town-planners-budget/

A new medical marijuana growing facility in Richmond, Maine is less than 300 feet away from the high school and middle school — and town officials say it’s perfectly legal.

This spring, the Richmond planning board approved a permit for a grow operation at 150 Main Street, a building right next to the school entrance.

According to town records, Richmond’s attorney reviewed the permit request and determined that there was no legal basis for denying it. The medical marijuana law states that proximity to schools is only a consideration for dispensaries — and this operation is strictly a growing facility.

“It’s very difficult to explain to people why there’s a marijuana grow facility 300 feet from a school,” said Richmond Select Board Chair O’Neil LaPlante.

He said the town is “almost split 50-50,” with some concerned about the location of the grow site, and others seeing no problem with it.

The issue caught the attention of Rep. Seth Berry, (D-Bowdoinham), who has sponsored LD 1636, emergency legislation to give municipalities the authority to prohibit marijuana caregivers within 500 feet from a school.

“This will give the town some leverage,” said Rep. Berry, whose legislation has passed the House and Senate — and is now sitting on the Governor’s desk.

“A lot of parents were concerned, some law enforcement was concerned, and the entire select board wanting me to do something — so I have,” said Berry.

He said his legislation would impact future grow operations — but will not retroactively address the

Article source: http://www.necn.com/news/new-england/Medical-Marijuana-Growing-Facility-Near-Maine-School-Raises-Eyebrows-429977813.html

With the last newsletter of the week, allow me to say Eid Mubarak.

Unfortunately, a threatening letter received by the Islamic Society on Portland Street earlier this week has cast something of a shadow over the end of Ramadan and upcoming Eid al-Fitr celebration, with Portland police saying today they’ll increase security at Muslim gathering places.

Thankfully, members of Portland’s Muslim community have told the Portland Press Herald they remain undaunted in the face of this unacceptable hatred, will continue worshipping and that they feel safe.

Here’s to a truly joyous Eid al-Fitr and a triumph over hatred..

Here are a few headlines you might be interested in.

What we’re talking about

Another week in the books, and the state still doesn’t have a two-year budget. If one isn’t in place by July 1, we’ll have our first state government shutdown since 1991. In your daily gridlock update, Republicans and Democrats are getting closer to agreement on education funding, but still have a sizable chasm on how to pay for it, as well as whether to push for a statewide teacher contract, as Gov. Paul LePage wants.

While cities like Portland have long been open and accepting of the LGBTQIA community, acceptance in rural communities has been slower to evolve. The BDN’s Abigail Curtis found that gay, lesbian and transgender farmers living and working in rural Maine have a wide range of experiences. A couple running a family farm in Morrill said they feel accepted in the community, while another source in

Article source: http://portland.bangordailynews.com/2017/06/23/news/theres-still-no-state-budget-but-we-do-have-a-black-widow-spider/