Assistant Secretary of the Navy Jackalyne Pfannenstiel presented a Meritorious Service Commendation to the base. In the background are a P-3A Orion and a BNAS fire engine.By Larz F. Neilson
Coastal Journal contributor

On Tuesday, May 31, one last Navy P-3A Orion landed at Brunswick Naval Air Station (NASB). A few hours later, it took off from Brunswick Landing - the same runway with a new name. The plane had been brought in for the closing ceremony of the base.

Where dozens of P-3 flights took off and landed daily only two years ago, the plane sat on a vacant tarmac with no Navy service facilities.

The base was officially closed in ceremonies held on a bright sunny Tuesday afternoon on the last day of May. More than 500 people, including many veterans, attended the two-hour ceremony at the Quarterdeck at the 68-year-old base.

One of them was Arnold Wilkie, a plankholder who had was present when the base opened in 1943. A pharmacist's mate, he had served in the South Pacific during World War II and was awarded two Purple Hearts. Plankholder is an honor in the Navy for sailors present at the launching of a ship, base or unit. Upon retirement of the ship, each plankholder would receive a ceremonial piece of wood from the deck.

An early Monday morning fire caused significant damage to the Unitarian Universalist Church on Pleasant Street in Brunswick. Brunswick Fire Chief Ken Brillant said much of the fire damaged the back addition of the church behind the pulpit.

The fire traveled up the wall separating this back room and the main sanctuary and tore through the building’s attic, burning a hole through the church roof. The sanctuary itself sustained mostly smoke and water damage, Brillant said. No injuries were reported, with the exception of one firefighter who cut his hand on some broken glass. 

According to information obtained from the church website (www.uubrunswick.org), this Sunday's 9:15 a.m. service (on June 12) will be held at the Curtis Memorial Library.

The Maine Trauma System Hospital of the Year award being presented to Mid Coast Hospital. From L to R: Matthew Hincks, RN, Unit Coordinator, Mid Coast Hospital ED; Marlene L. Cornier, MD, FACEP, Attending Physician, Mid Coast Hospital ED, and Regional Medical Director, Southern Maine EMS; John Morris, Commissioner, Maine Department of Public Safety; Mary Mayhew, Commissioner, Maine Department of Health and Human Services; Governor Paul LePage. BRUNSWICK — Mid Coast Hospital has been recognized as Trauma System Hospital of the Year by Maine Emergency Medical Services. The award was presented on May 18 at the 24th annual Maine Emergency Medical Services ceremony at the Blaine House.

Participating in the event were Governor Paul LePage, Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Morris, and Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew.

The Trauma System Hospital of the Year award was given to Mid Coast Hospital for their work in helping to develop the Trauma Advisory Committee Technical Assistance Teams, and for being the most recent hospital to assure that trauma patients receive the best possible care.

The Technical Assistance Team consists of members representing trauma centers, nursing, EMS, administration, surgery, emergency departments, and others who work directly with Trauma System Hospitals that are interested in improving their policies, procedures, and treatment protocols for trauma patients. Lois Skillings, Executive Vice President of Mid Coast Health Services, is past-Chair of Maine EMS Trauma Advisory Committee, which oversees the Technical Assistance Team.

by John Maguire
Coastal Journal staff

WALDOBORO — Approximately 50 people gathered in the basement of the Meenahga Grange Hall in Waldoboro last Thursday to discuss the "carrots and hoops" of a historic rehabilitation tax credit program for commercial properties in the town's village area.

Members of Waldoboro's Economic Development Committee have been working with Planning and Development Director Misti Gorski and consultants on the Downtown Master Plan, to improve business and the overall aesthetic of Waldoboro village.

Expenses that would be covered by the tax credits include restoration work to walls, floors and ceilings, paneling, tile work, plumbing, chimneys, stairs, elevators, sprinkler systems and other working facets of a historic building. Other communities and individual property owners in the midcoast have benefitted by the tax incentives to improve significant buildings and streets in historic districts.