by Gina Hamilton
Coastal Journal staff

BATH — Over 100 citizens attended the gubernatorial debate hosted by the Coastal Journal and the Times-Record on Wednesday, August 25, at City Hall.  While Republican candidate Paul LePage’s staff pleaded a fundraising engagement in Presque Isle, the other four candidates were in attendance, and for two hours answered questions posed by both CJ and TR editors Gina Hamilton and Jim McCarthy, as well as questions submitted by audience members.  Present were Eliot Cutler, Independent; Elizabeth ‘Libby’ Mitchell, Democrat; Shawn Moody, Independent; and Kevin Scott, Independent.

TOPSHAM — The State Fire Marshal's Office says a young Topsham man was arrested last Wednesday night and charged with arson. The arrest was in connection with the Tuesday night fire that destroyed an abandoned apartment house on the Brunswick Naval Air Station Annex.

Fire Marshal Investigators and Topsham Police arrested 21–year–old Robi Saputra, in the parking lot of the Merrymeeting Condos, at about 9:30 p.m. Saputra, who lives at the condominium project, was arrested without incident and taken to the Two Bridges Jail in Wiscasset. Merrymeeting Condos is located a short distance from the base annex. Saputra is also charged with violating his conditions of bail for a prior unrelated drug charge.

Libby Mitchell (D), Eliot Cutler (I), Shawn Moody (I), Kevin Scott (I)

BATH — Four of the five gubernatorial candidates are scheduled for a debate on Wednesday, August 25, at Bath City Hall auditorium, from 6 - 8 p.m. Confirmed attendance will be by Senator Libby Mitchell (D), Eliot Cutler (I), Shawn Moody (I) and Kevin Scott (I).

Paul LePage declined the CJ’s invitation, pleading a previously scheduled fundraising engagement in Presque Isle on that date.

by Annee Tara
Coastal Journal contributor

BRUNSWICK NAVAL AIR STATION — In less than a year, the Navy will be gone and Naval Air Station Brunswick will be history.  In its place will be Brunswick Landing, Maine's Center for Innovation.

So, how's the transition going? Late last year, the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) announced its short- and long-range objectives.  In the near-term (within three years after the Navy conveys the property to MRRA), the plan is to replace the 700-plus civilian jobs that will have been lost with the departure of the Navy.  

The recent announcement that Kestrel Aircraft will bring its operation to Brunswick Landing was great news - a big step toward MRRA's goal: Kestrel plans to start with a workforce of 80 designers, engineers and people who will produce the prototype of its new aircraft.  While some of those will be current Kestrel employees, the company expects to hire area residents with the skills to bring the Kestrel to market.  Ultimately, the plant will employ as many as 300 workers.