Interviews

Marc spent 26 years with the CIA–much of that time in the Middle East–and this morning we touched on several subjects. 1) The increasingly desperate situation in Gaza where an Israeli airstrike has killed 18 Palestinians as tension mounts over food distribution. 2) The controversy…

Tucker is a 34-year-old Brunswick High and West Point graduate, a veteran of the Army’s recently established Cyber unit, who now works in cyber-security. He talked this morning on The Buzz about what causes him to set his eyes on Washington. You may hear it…

Jim Bleikamp here. When it comes to my job of gathering news and finding guests for the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, I plead guilty to a certain impatience–I don’t like to wait for guests who are topical now! So I really appreciate Maine’s newest candidate…

Jim Bleikamp here. After her massive win by a margin of over 5-1 in the Tuesday election, I had hoped to be talking to Katie Stansky on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, but that didn’t happen–she might have been sleeping in–but as we say in…

Jim Bleikamp here. Mission Accomplished! We have now spent time on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz with BOTH of the candidates in next week’s election (in which there has already been considerable early voting) to fill a vacancy on the Brunswick School Board. After Thursday’s…

Voting is already underway in the most contentious Brunswick school board race in recent memory, with the actual election day next Tuesday when we will find out the results of the voting. Today on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz we heard from candidate Shaun Hogan…

The always active chief joins us once a month on The Buzz. We covered a number of current topics today and it all began with some reflections from the chief on Sunday’s crash on Old Bath Road in which Brunswick resident Kaylah Rusaw lost her…

On today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, Bill Green, the popular longtime outdoors reporter for News Center Maine, who retired in 2019, and in the following year recorded a widely noted televised endorsement of Senator Susan Collins, doesn’t rule out a similar move on behalf of…

Marc is a summer resident of Freeport, who is based most of the year in D.C. and attends virtually all games in which the Red Sox play the Nationals and the Orioles in nearby Baltimore. He’s also a 26-year veteran of the CIA. So we…

Jim Bleikamp here. I have always been inclined to think of RICE as the ultimate comfort food but Tracy Gregoire of Topsham, Director of The Healthy Children Project of the Learning Disabilties Association of America, told us on The Buzz that there are some rice…

Angus King lll, a Democrat, and a political newcomer with the famous name of his father, now seeking to follow in his father’s footsteps as governor. We found out more on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. If you missed it, you may hear it here.

On today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, Mt. Ararat High School Principal Chris Hoffman, suggesting that we may never see the full text of the newly issued report on the hazing that went on among members of the Ararat boys hockey team, because it contains a…

We covered a wide range of issues with the chief—the Brunswick Police relationship to immigration enforcement agencies, stolen and defaced political signs, the possibility of a comfort dog in Brunswick–like the one in Topsham–and the chief also revealed perhaps the most astonishing misplaced call to…

Heads-up! This Sunday is the day of the annual Spring Walk to Build in Bath–a major fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity 7 Rivers–which builds and repairs homes on the Midcoast. Stepping off from Grace Episcopal Church with registration and check-in at 1 in the afternoon–a…

On today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, we heard from the woman who each day attempts to take a load off the 9-1-1 system and help people with their healthcare needs in their homes. Elizabeth seems optimistic about the future of the program in spite of…

Brunswick Town Councilor Jennifer Hicks is one of several elected officials who took part in Saturday’s “Hands-Off” rally on the Brunswick Town Mall. At Monday evening’s council meeting, she called it a “wonderful experience”, says she’s “incredibly concerned about what’s going on in our country”…

Marc with some perspective on the uproar over the “group chat’ involving numerous Trump administration national security officials AND an editor of The Atlantic Magazine. And before that, a bit of pre-seasaon perspective on the Red Sox, given that Marc is a devout fan. If…

Sally talked for the most part about her newly introduced bill proposing a study into how Maine can support the banking needs of the cannabis industry, which has been deprived of banking access by virtue of the fact that cannabis is still illegal under federal…

Andrew began a busy day on The Buzz–previewing a trip he’ll be taking to Augusta this afternoon, where he will testify before a legislative committee in a pitch for a greater state subsidy for Tedford in Brunswick, and for the 40 other homeless shelters around…

On today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, Brunswick Town Councilor David Watson, who also serves as commander of Brunswick American Legion Post 20, and Beatrice Elmore, a student researcher at Brunswick High school. Beatrice is also a member of an ongoing team looking into the involvement…

Jackie joins us monthly on The Buzz and talked today about two hot-button issues: 1) Superior Court Judge Michaela Murphy’s recent ruling that the state must soon begin to release people from jail if they have waited more than two weeks for a lawyer 2)…

After last summer’s spill of toxic firefighting foam at Brunswick Landing, Brunswick State Representative Dan Ankeles has now seen two of his proposals clear a legsilative committee in Augusta–proposals aimed at avoiding any kind of repeat of the spill. The proposals would catalog, collect and…

Ben Martens, with his fingers on the pulse of Maine’s fishing industry, gave us an update today on a coastal institution in Maine suddenly in jeopardy. The federal government is discontinuing a $4.5 million grant program for Maine Sea Grant, one of the state’s major…

On Monday morning, we crammed more people–all of them champions–into our WCME studio at Fort Andross than ever before on the Midcoast Morning Buzz. This in the aftermath of their big win Friday evening over the Hampden Broncos to claim the state basketball championship in…

Jim Bleikamp here. I’m feeling good about the fact that even though many of us have staked out largely firm positions on at least two sides, and maybe more sides, of the difficult debate about transgender participation in girls sports, we are more and more…

Jim Bleikamp here. Big fun on today’s Buzz spending some time with Lexi in the aftermath of her nomination for Miss Maine Basketball after four standout years of varsity basketball play at Brunswick High School. And Sam Farrell who has coached girls basketball at Brunswick…

Jim Bleikamp here. Here is one of those interviews that you probably want to find some time for if you missed it–even if your day is crazy busy–like mine. NBC News national security analyst Marc Polymeropoulos on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz talking both about…

Jim Bleikamp here. Jackie visits us once a month on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz and normally it’s all about legal matters, but this morning I asked her to talk a little about her experience with COVID-19, with which she is doing battle for a…

Dan discussed some of the bills he’s offering in this year’s legislative session, including several that relate to the aftermath of last summer’s spill of toxic foam at Brunswick Landing. And he also explained why he’s currently undecided on Governor Mills’ proposal to raise the…

Matt is a man who is many things–husband, father, successful small business owner, and now a convicted yet pardoned felon in the aftermath of his voyage inside the U-S Capitol on January 6 2021. Jim Bleikamp talked with him at length on today’s WCME Midcoast…

Jim Bleikamp here-Recovering Awkward Adolescent. I thought I had it tough in my pup years–I was big and slow–not particularly athletic, and a very strong talent for often saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Yes, I did have it tough as do many…

Jim Bleikamp here. Big fun this morning on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz with Connor and Lainey talking about their new and wildly popular eatery on Maine Street in Brunswick. And all of a sudden they are in contention for the “Best New Bar” award…

Jim Bleikamp here. On today’s WCME Midcaost Morning Buzz, some initial comments about departing Brunswick football coach Mark Renna from Brunswick School Superintendent Phil Potenziano turned into an exteended conversation about athletics in the Brunswick schools. You may pick up some information here of which…

On today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, Cumberland County District Attorney Jackie Sartoris says she hopes state legislators, in their newly launched session, will approve a red-flag law, which would make it easier for families and others to get guns out of the hands of those…

On today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, veteran Brunswick Parks and Recreation Director Tom Farrell, who recently passed the 40-year mark in that job and we began by asking Tom about how is job differs from when he began in 1984. But most of this interview…

Chip is a longtime Midcoast resident who heads a coalition launching a drive for open water flows and heightened fish passage on the Androscoggin River. If you missed him on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz you may hear him here.

Marc, with a 26-year background in the CIA, and much of that time in the Middle East, talked about the possible motivations for the horror in New Orleans and the continuing world-wide influence of ISIS and its online recruitment efforts. If you missed it on…

Doug and Amy Self, who reside on Coombs Road in Brunswick, and can’t drink their well water in the aftermath of the foam spill at Brunswick Landing, told their story on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, and equated their current lifestyle to “camping.” In addition…

Tracy, who resides in Topsham, is Healthy Children Project Director of Learning Disabilities Association of America She’s also joining with The Campaign for Healthier Solutions (CHS) in urging the nation’s largest dollar stores to implement corporate policies to phase out harmful chemicals in the products…

Jackie joined this morning on the heels of a major announcement that her office is receiving a 2.5 million dollar federal grant that will allow her office to inventory and track all “rape kits” held currently in Cumberland County, to test all appropriate kits in…

On today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, I was truly pleased to host Gregg Hauger and Camryn Reuling, two of the stars of the biggest thing in Lisbon this weekend–and the entire Midcoast is invitedto catch the Lisbon High Drama Club’s production of “Little Shop of…

Perhaps the most important interview of last week on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, which was not posted in the midst of much breaking local news. Marc is a 26-year veteran of the CIA. If you missed any part of it, you may hear it…

A man with a unique local political legacy. Who is perhaps the most persistent political figure of all on the Midcoast. Guy Lebida is a former Sagadahoc County Republican chair, who has TWICE defeated incumbent Republican state legislators in primary elections–only to lose the subsequent…

Sean in the past has been a movie producer and talked about his plans for the theater before Brunswick town councilors.

A further sign–and a local sign–of the well-documented continuing gender gap in the presidential election, which saw more men voting for Donald Trump and more women picking Kamala Harris. On today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, Cumberland County District Attorney Jackie Sartoris, who along with a…

Dan joins us in the aftermath of his resounding re-election win in which he bested a challenger by a margin of more than 3-1. Dan reflects on the outcome of the presidential election, on the aftermath of the foam spill at Brunswick Landing, and what’s…

Aaron Skolfield, the senior patrol sergeant in the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Department, who lost a race for the sheriff’s job this week, who says he has been defamed by Governor Mills and the independent commission on the Lewiston mass shootings, and is considering legal action….

Jim Bleikamp here. As one who has covered the Brunswick Town Council for 12 years, I will say it again–the council, and in particular, Council Chair Abby King is still learning how to handle public comment. And while I will be the first to say…

Ahead of this evening’s session of the Brunswick Town Council, Fifth District Councilor Jennifer HIcks, who represents the residential population of the Landing, on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. Talking about the latest in the aftermath of the foam spill at the Landing, and in…

Melendy seeks a council seat in Brunswick District 2, recently vacated by Steve Walker. Melendy is already a veteran of town government, having served on several committees including the active Rivers and Coastal Waters Commission which he chairs. The interview is here, in two parts.

Jamie is finishing up his first year on the Brunswick Town Council, after being elected to fill the unexpired term of now-State Representative Dan Ankeles. Now Ecker seeks re-election to the council from District 2, opposing Marco Melendy, who joined us last week on the…

WCME Exclusive: Just as candles lit the emerging darkness over the town mall in downtown Brunswick, it seems that comforting words had a similar impact on a crowd of as many as 200, many of whom have experienced some dark recent moments of the soul…

Shaun is seeking an at-large seat on the school board on a platform of fiscal responsibility and greater transparency. Shaun is an educator in his own right–a driving instructor and a one-time substitute teacher in the Brunswick schoools–as is confirmed by the photo. If you…

After the unexpected passing of a Brunswick High School student this week, and new concern about youth suicide, we met the moment on an extended edition of the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, with a full hour with Dr. Goodwin, a Topsham-based pediatrician and a recognized…

Abigail is a mother of 4, a Bowdoin College graduate and oversees the Community Health Improvement Fund at Mid Coast Hospital. She’s one of two candidates for an at-large seat on the Brunswick School Board. If you missed her on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz,…

One of our favorite periodic visitors to the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. Denise is a violinist with Midcoast Symphony Orchestra and the symphony’s chief spokeswoman on WCME. This weekend–the kick-off of the 35th symphonic season–in both Lewiston and Topsham. If you missed Denise on The…

Kim is the first of a large load of local candidates to be heard from over the next two weeks on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. She’s running for the council seat being given up by Council Chair Abby King in Brunswick’s District 3, and…

It is a simple fact of life that the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz is made better once a month by the appearance of Brunswick Police Chief Scott Stewart. We covered quite a bit of subject matter with the chief today, including the Brunswick police involvement…

On today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, Cumberland County District Attorney Jackie Sartoris voices the view that a so-called red flag law in Maine might have made a life-saving difference in Sunday’s triple homocide in Bath, in which a wife and daughter, Lisa and Jennifer Bailey,…

Jim Bleikamp here. I talked with Phil about the formation of a state commission to study the financing of new school infrastructure across Maine, about bringing about greater equity in the funding of public education and about the handling of school bullying. If you missed…

On today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, Brunswick State Representative Dan Ankeles, who represents the residential population of Brunswick Landing, voicing clear disappointment with the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Auhority Board and its Friday public meeting, where a number of Landing residents voiced concern and alarm about…

On today’s Buzz, Dan Ankeles framed the choice that he sees confrontiong the town in the starkest of terms: “Are we truly willing to tolerate–right now–a poison-based economy on the Landing, or are we going to break the cycle and stand up for public health…

Jim Bleikamp here. Jennifer is the councilor representing the Fifth District in Brunswick, which includes the entire residential population of Brunswick Landing. She has been active in following up on the foam spill at the Landing. If you missed the interview on the radio you…

Annie oversees child care at Bath YMCA and is just as excited as you may be about plans to expand childcare availability on the Midcoast. This effort will include the redevelopment of a property at 6 Farley Road, near Cooks Corner in Brunswick, with 120…

Jim Bleikamp here. You may take an avid interest in this post if you love radio–or if you value Radio Midcoast WCME–or both! On Sunday at Midnight, a legendary radio station in New York, which provided news and nothing but news 24/7, came to a…

Tracy and Sarah are both involved in their work lives in a drive to ban PFAS chemicals on a broad scale here in Maine. One week after the foam spill at Brunswick Landing, here they are on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. If you missed…

Midcoast Maine Community Action CEO Claire Berkowitz talks about her oversight of a large number of much-used programs on the Midcoast, such as Head Start and LIHEAP heating assistance. Also joining us by phone from Waldoboro, Russ Anderson, a board member. If you missed it…

So very topical. So very compelling. Brunswick-based attorney Suzanne Johnson, who for years has been sounding the alarm about possible environmental contamination at Brunswick Landing on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. If you missed it on the radio, you may catch it here.

The two councilors talk about what has gone wrong on Monday when 1600 gallons of firefighting foam concentrate, containing dangerous chemicals, spilled in a hangar at Brunswick Executive Airport. And what needs to happen now. If you missed it, you may hear it here.

Jim Bleikamp here. A wide-ranging conversation with Dan on major state issues, prospects for the next legislative session in Augusta and the comments of Second District Democratic Congressman Jared Golden about his refusal to make an endorsement in the presidential race. If you missed it…

The superintendent reassures the community about the safety of buses on the road and reacts to a presentation to the school board on Wednesday evening, pointing up excessive rust issues and other problems impacting aging buses.

Jackie covers a number of subjects, including some thoughts about crime reduction, in the wake of new data showing a nationwide drop in violent crime. If you missed it on the radio, you may hear it here.

Marc comes to NBC and WCME after a 26-year background with the CIA. We talked further about the recently ended imprisonment of Bowdoin College graduate and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and the future impact of that imprisonment on the nation’s intelligence and on…

With a month to go until the start of the new school year, the superintendent talks a number of back-to-school topics, including questions about restrictions on cellphone use among students. You may hear the interview here. Potenziano-Buzz August

Walkar, an 11-year council veteran, is leaving the council because of a change in his personal life that is causing him to move from his home in District 2. Walker, a wildlife biologist, has a very well established reputation as an advocate for the maintenance…

Jim Bleikamp here. We covered several subjects with the Chief today, including the air show and its impact on the police department, today’s three-vehicle crash on Pleasant Street, and the chief previewed Tuesday’s National Night Out from 4-7 at the Brunswick Recreation Center at the…

On today’s Buzz, the story behind the story of the release of Wall Street Journal reporter and Bowdoin College graduate Evan Gershkovich and others from Russian prisons. As told by Marc, a man who brings with him a 26-year background in the CIA. If you…

Ben discussed a variety of issues, including the protection of working waterfronts, the impact of right whale protections and offshore wind development on the fishing industry. If you missed it–not to worry–you can catch it at the link below.

Thanks to two veterans of the Bowdoinham Food Pantry, Pantry Director Jennifer Stonebraker and Sally Jeane Cluchey, also Bowdoinham’s state representative, for livening up the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz with details on this Sunday’s third annual Block Party to benefit the food pantry. An exceptional…

Sophie reacted to increasing concern about noise and safety issues relating to the discharge of guns–mainly in the form of target practice and recreational shooting in rural parts of the town. If you missed it on the radio, you may catch it here. Sophie

Some thoughts on the nature of the medium that we love. Namely RADIO. From one of the rising stars of radio’s next generation. Who is also just getting to know Maine. Kadie Daye, who co-hosts mornings at Buffalo, New York’s WYRK stopped into the WCME…

After noting that Maine is the only state in the nation without a public defender system, Cumberland County District Attorney Jackie Sartoris, on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, joined other observers in saying that no one wants to take responsibility for Maine’s problem in finding…

At the start of 4th of July week, Brunswick Police Chief Scott Stewart on The Buzz, noting that fireworks are illegal in Brunswick. Also some thoughts on fireworks safety.

From WCME – Your 24/7 Midcoast Breaking News Leader While the Brunswick School Board has yet to discuss the matter, School Superintendent Phil Potenziano, on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, says he sees no cell phone “crisis” in the school system. This, as numerous school…

Marc on the Wednesday WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz–we talked about high heat, the recent fortunes of the Red Sox, but most importantly, the Evan Gershkovich imprisonment, Vladmir Putin, and Russia. If you missed it, not to fret–it’s right here.

Jim Bleikamp here. A true pleasure among pleasures to host the first interview with Caleb Manuel since his Friday announcement that he’s turning pro after a high-profile amateur golfing career in which Caleb won the Maine Amateur Tournament in three consecutive years. And beginning his…

On this primary election day, some Republican activists are at various polling places seeking petition signatures in a move for a statewide referendum aimed at requiring people to present photo identification to vote. But on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, Cumberland County District Attorney Jackie…

The chief discusses his recent participation in an FBI conference in Vermont and the Brunswick Police Department’s current search for an animal control officer. And more. And even though the chief was armed, he was kind enough to take no retaliatory action when I told…

Jean is a former legislative policy analyst in Augusta, who is competing with former Topsham state representative Denise Tepler for the Democratic nomination for the Sagadahoc state senate seat in next Tuesday’s primary election. We covered a number of subjects, and Jean voiced the view…

On today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz the first of two interviews with the candidates in a key primary race in next Tuesday’s election. The battle for the Democratic nomination for the District 24 Senate seat, which covers all of Sagadahoc County and Dresden in Lincoln…

Students in 18 school districts, including Brunswick and Bath-based RSU-1, may have less mental health support next year now that the nonprofit behavioral health organization Sweetser, providing long-term therapy, says it can’t afford to keep current staffing levels. Sweetser had 80-school based clinicians working with…

Marc is a 26-year-veteran of the CIA, a die-hard Red Sox fan and a reguar guest on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz–often following the ongoing saga of Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter and Bowdoin College graduate, who remains imprisoned in Moscow on spying…

Becky resigned just a few days ago, toward the close of her first term as a Democratic state representative. She’s headed to Maryland to work for the federal government’s National Marine Fisheries Service–a job that might bring her back to Maine at some point. On…

On the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, Brunswick School Superintendent Phil Potenziano, while not saying he is opposed, is nonetheless raising questions about a new proposal to shrink the size of the tax impact in the town’s budget plan for the new fiscal year. Potenziano says…

On today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, we threw a spotlight on the Victory Vertical Project–a traveling series of piano concerts featuring the music heard by American combat troops during World War 2 on small, specially made Steinway pianos that were parachuted into war zones to…

On today’s Buzz, Adam Lacher, executive director of the Habitat branch here on the Midcoast, talks about his mission and the mission of the organization concerned about affordable housing since the day of its founding in 1976. Adam also talks here about how YOU can…

However long Dr. Heidi O’Leary, the newly minted PHD, winds up serving as SAD-75 superintendent, it is unlikely that she will ever address an issue as fundamentally important as school safety in an era of school gunfire. With that top of mind, Heidi is getting…

Ford Reiche is a Freeport resident, a graduate of Falmouth High School, University of Maine and University of Maine Law School, who has written previously about his restoration of Halfway Rock Light Station near Portland, and was then possessed by an urge to document the…

With frustration, and in some cases downright anger mounting across Maine, after the legislature’s failure to take a vote on the proposed “red flag law”, Brunswick State Representative Dan Ankeles joins the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, to talk about that and more. A red flag…

Brunswick Democratic State Representative Dan Ankeles is declining comment on the newly reached agreement in Augusta on several key supplemental budget items, including the restoration of pension tax breaks for retirees and an increase in pay for educational technicians. Noting the fragility of this deal,…

Steve is a long-serving town councilor who recently became the land trust’s executive director. 25 acres at 262 Pleasant Hill Road are being purchased for $2 million. The property includes an historic barn and 25 acres on land once known as Dionne Farm. Steve also…

Jackie’s monthly stop at the Buzz, which this month could be hardly more varied. It began with Jackie’s solar eclipse story, which parallels the experience of many a Mainer on Monday, and then we asked Jackie about some continuing criticism of her recently announced policy…

From Rob Burgess, President, Southern Maine Astronomers, on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. If you missed it on the radio you may hear it here.

Sometimes we get attention not because we are already famous or because of our position in this life, but simply for saying a few words that happen to resonate with a significant number of people at a particular moment in time. And so it goes…

It was a year ago today–March 29,2024–that Evan Gershkovich a Bowdoin College grad from the Class of 2014 was simply doing his job as a Moscow reporter for the Wall Street Journal when he suddenly found himself “detained” by Russian authorities. A year later, he…

The attorney general announces the filing of a civil rights complaint in Superior Court in Portland against 49-year-old William Deary and his 18-year-old son Hayden, both of Harpswell. The complaint alleges that in early January, the Dearys vandalized road signs and roadways in Harpswell, Brunswick,…

On today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz we were joined by Suzanne Watson, executive director at Meetinghouse Arts on Main Street in Freeport and by Brian Braley, senior manager at Spindleworks, the art center in Brunswick populated by developmentally disabled artists–these two organizations are combining for…

Yes–we have declared this day to be Phantom Thursday in tribute to this evening’s debut of the Brunsnwick High School Players’ production of Phantom of the Opera–the musical with everything–beauty, obsession, a bit of terror, and music to take your breath away. On today’s WCME…

Jackie appeared on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz and says because of an overwhelming caseload, she is temporarily no longer pursuing criminal prosecutions of people charged with driving without a license, and related charges. She also denies that this has anything at all to do…

On the heels of their runaway win on Saturday over the Cony Rams, the four captains of the newly crowned Class A State Champion Brunswick Dragons show up with their gold ball at WCME and the Midcoast Morning Buzz. From left to right, Abby St….

Tip Koehler and Chris Hall from Friends of Sequin Island–they talk here about the continuing value of lighthouses on the Maine coast, and in particular about a new capital campaign aimed at restoring and enhancing the light station at Sequin Island—2.5 miles off the mouth…

On today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, we covered a number of subjects with Brunswick School Superintendent Phil Potenziano ahead of tonight’s public hearing at Brunswick Toiwn Hall on his budget proposal for the school year ahead. The superintendent called out hate speech on the part…

Marc is retired after 26 years with the CIA and began by talking about the latest move by the Russians to continue to imprison Gershokovich, a Wall Street Journal Reporter and 2014  graduate of Bowdoin College. From there, we moved on to a broader-based discussion…

Mark joined us on President’s Day–just a few days after being named to the job by the Topsham Select Board. Highlights– 1) Mark indicated that there is more commonality than we might assume between his profile jobs as a longtime Brunswick police commander and town…

It’s a unique new business, service and educational effort based in downtown Brunswick. Hand Therapy–help for ailing hands, wrists, arms and more. A discussion on the Buzz featuring hand therapist Mary Woodbury and Mark Thrall, a student completing field work with help from Mary. If…

Not only is today Valentine’s Day, but it’s also opening day for the 3rd annual Love to Build Art Auction until February 24. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be spent on local affordable housing solutions in southern Midcoast. The auction features original works…

On the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, the chief defends his controversial plan to purchase the Bearcat, an armored vehicle that would serve as a replacement for another vehicle now deemed to be outmoded. Chief Stewart notes that at any given moment, in the midst of…

Potenziano, on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, elaborates on the plan, reported exclusively this past Saturday. It’s a plan calling for the smallest increase in both the school budget and the town’s mil rate in recent years–a 3.1 percent appropriations increase and an increase in…

Jean is one of two Democratic women seeking to replace current Sagadahoc County Senator Eloise Vitelli in this November’s election. Jean is a former legislative policy analyst, a former Sagadahoc County Register of Probate, a mom, and a part-time law student. If you missed here…

Jeremy Bell started his working life studying swamps, marshes and bogs–work that led him to an understanding of how change in the climate plays a role in coastal and river flooding–like the kind that brought so much recent damage to parts of the Midcoast. Jeremy,…

Honors today for two women who figure prominently into Brunswick’s growing reputation as a fine food destination. Cara Stadler, (pictured), the chef at Brunswick’s Tao Yuan restaurant and Zaoze Cafe, and Baobao Dumpling House in Portland, has been with us before on The Buzz, but…

Wednesday evening at 6–an event of major atmospheric note at Curtis Library in Brunswick. The Town of Brunswick joins with the library to present the first in a series of in-person monthly lectures to be known as “Sustainable Brunswick”–with numerous speakers from numerous organizations addressing…

America’s electoral college system is unique in the developed world, in allowing presidential candidates to win the office without also winning the popular vote, and the system has become more controversial since January 6, 2021 when Donald Trump and his supporters attempted to use the…

Jackie Sartoris, in a discussion of election law, becomes the latest public official in Maine and elsewhere to say that democracy is on the ballot this year.

Here’s today’s nearly one-hour interview on an expanded edition of the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, with former Republican State Senator Tom Saviello of Wilton, who twice supported the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump, but was horrified by Trump’s behavior on January 6, 2021, and brought…

While Brunswick has not seen threats to public officials on the scale of those that have been lodged in recent days against Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, the chief told us on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz that there have indeed been threats against town…

Geoff Smith is the marine program director of The Nature Conservancy-Maine,  based at Fort Andross in Brunswick. A man working on various marine projects in the Gulf of Maine. And joining us today on “Outdoor Friday” on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. If you missed…

Barbara grew up in Freeport, starred on the 1976 state champion Freeport girls basketball team. She also scored a thousand points in her Freeport career, but was never recognized for that achievement in the early days of girls sports in Maine. Barbara went on to…

The chief gave us some insights as to how his people go about handling the challenging and dangerous matter of high-speed chases of those who don’t respond to police traffic stop orders. If you missed it, you may hear it here.

Denise is a former four-term state representative who seeks a return to Augusta and announced her candidacy on the Friday WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. If you missed the interview, you may hear it here.

It’s a most exciting project in Topsham with regional appeal, already underway, and growing rapidly. And on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, we received an update from Bill Patterson and Becky Wilkoff of Six Rivers Youth Sports–the non-profit seeking to build and operate a multi-purpose…

On the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz–the father and son act from Lisbon–Gary and Greg Hauger talking about the Lisbon High School Drama Club’s upcoming production of “A Christmas Carol”–with Greg in the title role of Ebeneezer Scrooge. If you missed it you may hear it…

The superintendent gives an endorsement to the move in Bath-based RSU1 to consider later start times for high school students and also talks about two programs he has implemented in Brunswick to enhance student safety in turbulent times.

The classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald will come to life on the stage of Crooker Theater at Brunswick High School this evening. And on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, three of the prime players–all Brunswick High seniors who plan to remain on stage after…

The chief follows up on a disclosure from the Maine Attorney General’s Office that the state’s yellow flag law has been invoked 14 times since the Lewiston shootings, to take away someone’s access to guns, and in three of those cases, the name of Robert…

Jackie’s first monthly appearance on The Buzz since the Lewiston shootings. You may hear it here.

Jim Bleikamp here. It’s always a riveting experience to talk to someone who has spent moments of their life in armed combat, because that is so very far removed from my own reality.  And it’s an experience that becomes even more riveting when that person…

Chris Teel–he’s at times an outspoken conservative in a town with progressive voting trends in recent years. He is one of three candidates seeking the at-large town council seat being given up at the end of the year by longtime councilor Kathy Wilson. We talked…

Ryan is the author of “Sedition Hunters: How January 6 Broke the Justice System”–the first definitive account of the massive open-source effort to bring January 6 perpetrators to justice. In the course of this interview, Ryan discussed the case of Matt Brackley, the one-time Sagadahoc…

Brunswick’s chief was a part of the 48-hour search for Robert Card, the mass shooter in Maine, eventually found dead in Lisbon. The chief told his searching story on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz.

Mike is a parent just finishing his first term on the Topsham-based SAD-75 School Board, who says he’s ok on the label “progressive” being applied to him. As he seeks re-election, Mike talked about a range of school issues on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz….

She’s just been selected by the Freeport Town Council, and after two decades of town management in Maine–the last ten years in Orono–she’s headed our way. You may hear the entire interview here.

Annalyse Sarvinas is one of five candidates for four Topsham seats on the SAD-75 School Board, which will be filled in the November election. Annalyse has made parental involvement a major theme of her campaign. This morning she became the latest of numerous Midcoast candidates…

Cross-endorsements, in which one candidate endorses another in multi-candidate elections, have been a relative rarity on the Midcoast in recent years, but today, an exception to the rule. In Topsham, where five candidates are competing for a total of four seats on the SAD-75 School…

Ann is one of three candidates for two seats on the board this fall. If you missed the interview on the radio, you may hear it here.

River is a Bowdoin College graduate, a teacher in Lewiston, and a transgender resident of Topsham seeking  a seat in November on the SAD-75 School Board. Today River became the first of those candidates to appear on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. If you missed…

After the recent discovery of a Nazi swastika inside a slide at the Morse Street School playground in Freeport, Town Council Vice-Chair John Egan and thought about it and decided that a quick response was in order. Thus, this afternoon’s forum and rally against hate…

Seth Berry, who launched the movement for the establishment of a consumer-owned utility in Maine sounds off one day after Governor Mills urged all Mainers to oppose the November referendum, which would allow the plan to go forward. You can hear the full interview here.

Jessica Damon and Stephanie Luce are concerned mothers in the Topsham-based SAD-75 School District who aroused much community concern with their remarks to the School Board. If you missed them on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, you may hear the interview here.

Jim Bleikamp here.  A couple of years ago I began to hear from a gentleman in Brighton UK–he and his family listen to the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz on a regular basis. This week David and his family have been visiting in Maine and we…

The chief covered a number of topics in his monthly visit to The Buzz, and notably said that he endorses Cumberland County District Attorney Jackie Sartoris’ call for a state law mandating safekeeping of firearms in homes, but questions whether such a bill could pass…

Jim Bleikamp here. The major and the mundane. My chat with Jackie began with her breaking story relating to a raccoon invasion of her Brunswick household–and later a plea for a law in Maine requiring the safe storage of firearms. If you missed it you…

Brunswick School Superintendent Phil Potenziano on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz reflecting on the designation of Brunswick High School as the seventh-best high school in Maine, in the new rankings of the nation’s high schools from U-S News and World Report Magazine. You can hear…

Marc, who is a 26-year veteran of the CIA talks a little about his beloved Boston Red Sox who he has been watching battle the Nationals in D.C.. and talks quite a bit about the incarceration of Evan Gershkovich, the 2014 Bowdoin College graduate and…

Dan makes news by telling us that he is leaving the council a year before the expirationof his current term, and will devote himself entirely to his position as a Brunswick state representative in Augusta. He also further comments on the assessment and tax controversy…

From WCME News: The Brunswick Town Council is calling a special meeting next Thursday evening at 6:30 to take action in response to a highly critical public reaction to its recent property valuation “adjustment”, which resulted in a large number of residential assessment increases and…

Contrary to some expectations, the arrival of 60 more asylum-seeking families in Brunswick this summer and fall may not have substantial impact on the school system. On the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, School Superintendent Phil Potenziano also indicated that he’s still wating for some of…

She had always lived here–in Brunswick–since the day of her birth. But she had never been politically active. So in some ways, it seemed that Kathy came out of nowhere in 2014 when she won an at-large seat on the Brunswick town council by an…

Jim Bleikamp here. Truly a pleasure to chat about the often fun but sometimes harrowing experience of bartending with a veteran of this craft, Amber Ambrose, who has been behind the bar at several Midcoast establishments in recent years, and currently serves up the suds…

It was both fun and quite educational on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, as we heard from Jeremy Cluchy, public affairs director of the Nature Conservancy in Brunswick, on the Maine Department of Transportation’s proposal for the 26-mile Merrymeeting Trail, connecting Topsham, Bowdoinham, Richmond, and…

Ryan Holmes is a medical marijuana distributor, a former physical education teacher at Mt. Ararat High School and a former athletic director at Leavitt High School, who announced his candidacy on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. A post-Buzz interview with Ryan is here.  

Jackie, who is also a former Brunswick town councilor, talks about the recent difficulties in dealing with neo-Nazi demonstrations in Portland.

The superintendent on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz almost a month after the meeting in which the School Board hired a new athletic director and decided not to select a particularly popular local candidate–Brunswick High School math teacher and veteran lacrosse coach Don Glover. You…

Jim Bleikamp here. This is one subject that does not come easily to me but I believe I understand a little more and a little better after talking with Harpswell-based software developer and software engineer John Kushiner on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. If you…

You may know Matt Nixon as a Topsham selectman, as a family man, as a dad. But he’s also a man of imagination. An aquaculture pioneer. The designer of the first 3-D-printed, closed-loop oyster-farming tank made from sustainable materials. On today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz,…

This past Wednesday, the Brunswick School Board hired Mt. Ararat Middle School Assistant Principal Kaili Phillips, a former Division 1 volleyball player at the University of Maine and veteran coach, to serve as athletic director. This move was made in front of a crowd of…

With the fate of this year’s Brunswick school budget proposal still up in the air, Superintendent Phil Potenziano on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, and saying that any further cutting of the school budget, as is being suggested by four councilors, would result in cuts…

Sarah is best know for co-starring in the hit TV show “24”, while her other half Xander is well-known for his work in action films. In the last several years they have taken up residence in Falmouth, and came to Brunswick to help the Gelato…

On today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, Jim Bleikamp talked with NBC National Security Analyst Marc Polymeropoulos, a retired 26-year veteran of the CIA, about the imprisonment of Gershkovich–the Wall Street Journal Moscow reporter and a Bowdoin College graduate. Marc began by declaring that spying allegations…

Kim Pacelli is an attorney and partner in the risk management consulting firm TNG, who also holds a masters degree in education. She’s also the newest member of the perpetually electric SAD-75 School Board, based in Topsham, which has seen six superintendents in the last…

Jennifer Hicks, who serves as communications director for an environmentally-oriented non-profit, is the only candidate so far in the running for a vacant town council seat in Brunswick’s 5th district. She’s running as a designated write-in candidate and she was a guest on today’s WCME…

Monday February 13–marks the release date of the 21st century version of a song written decades ago by a life-long resident of Bath. On the Monday WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz–we heard and told the latest chapter in the evolution of the song “Wait Til Tomorrow”–written…

The man who coached boys basketball for 25 years at Brunswick High School and won a state title in 2002 is now in the Hall of Fame. Todd joined the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz to talk about it.

Brunswick Police Chief Scott Stewart, on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, says newly proposed increased fine levels for driving while talking on cellphones in Maine, may be excessive. A legislative proposal calls for hiking the fine for a first offense from $85 to $500, while…

After last week’s school board discussion in Topsham about racial tension among some students in the SAD-75 district, Brunswick School Superintendent Phil Potenziano was asked on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz about the racial climate in the Brunswick schools. The superintendent also talked about the…

On the morning after a discussion at a meeting of the SAD-75 School Board, where a consensus emerged that racism is a problem in need of attention at Mt. Ararat High School and at other schools in the system, Superintendent Steve Connlly discussed the situation…

Maine Center for Disease Control Director Dr. Nirav Shah, who came to Maine four years ago, tells us on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz that even though he is leaving for a high-level position at Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and Washington, he will…

In just three weeks, Dan holds on to one four-year-old life as a town councilor and begins a new one as a state representative. On the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz he talked about the challenges and opportunities in doing that, and also touched on the…

On this Veteran’s Day, another chance to hear Billy’s musical epiphany on the Vietnam War and the 58,000 Americans who took their last breath there. As well as countless Vietnamese.  

With no declared candidates in the race for the downtown council seat being given up by Kate Foye, Nat Shed, a retired consultant to non-profit agencies, is aggressively seeking the seat as a write-in candidate. He talked with Jim Bleikamp on the Monday WCME Midcoast…

On today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, Dike Newell Principal Jennifer McKay talks about the very busy summer just now ending, in which she and others in the RSU 1 School District, have managed to fashion a new and temporary Dike Newell School after the arson…

On today’s WCME Creature Feature, brought to you by Darling’s Brunswick Ford on Bath Road, Midcoast Humane’s Kate Griffith talked about the ways in which Midcoast Humane has committed to helping Bandit-O, Dieg-O, and Jackie-O, dogs who were brought to the Sumter Humane Society in…

The Brunswick Police Department is stepping up its drive to fill vacancies, and is looking for patrol officers and for a communications officer. We had one of each on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz–to hear more about what they do. Communications Officer Rebecca Blier Carter…

The new superintendent talked with us on the morning after he was authorized by the School Board to decide on a plan for dealing with school security issues on election days. And more. If you missed it on the radio, you may still hear it…

Oasis is well known on the Midcoast for providing medical and dental care for people without insurance. But the agency has struggled to keep up with demand. Now it looks like it’s headed for an $833,000 federal grant. Oasis Executive Director Anita Ruff talked with…

Sally Cluchey is a veteran community activist in Bowdoinham who serves as Chair of the Board of the Bowdoinham Food Pantry, and will be the Democratic candidate for the Maine House seat in District 52 covering Bowdoinham, Richmond and part of Bowdoin. She seeks to…

Debra Rumery is the new president of the American Legion Auxiliary in Maine and has embarked on a project to lessen this number. If you missed her on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, you may still hear her at this link. Also here is some…

It’s something Brunswick Police Chief Scott Stewart, a recent graduate of the FBI Academy, certainly gives thought to. The Chief talked about preventing the once unthinkable–which is becoming ever more thinkable and real across this nation, on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. If you missed…

The woman who will likely serve as Cumberland County’s next district attorney starting in January comments on issues that may confront her in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s move to decimate the Roe vs. Wade decision. From the Monday WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz.

The Brunswick Police Chief on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz looking back on the last ten weeks of his life at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia–of which he is now a graduate. If you missed it on the radio, you can hear it…

On the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, Jim Bleikamp hosted an exclusive interview with Jackie–the Brunswick attorney who has now won the Democratic nomination for Cumberland County district attorney, and will almost surely be taking over that job in January. If you missed it on the…

On this week’s edition of WCME’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up, a focus on nursing during National Nurse’s Week, with Stephany Jacques, who oversees nursing at Rumford Hospital–a division of Central Maine Healthcare. If you missed it on the radio, you may still catch it here.

On this week’s WCME Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up we talked with Dr. Hector Tarraza, the oncology chief at Central Maine Medical Center, about CMMC’s soon-to-open new Cancer Center, and the various reasons he can’t wait for that opening. If you missed it, you may still…

Steve is a 40-year educational veteran in Maine just named to the top job in the Topsham-based school district this past Thursday evening. His first interview was today on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. If you missed it, it’s right here.

On this weekend’s edition of WCME’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up, urologist Dr. Christopher Foote talked about the  ways in which the forthcoming Cancer Center will improve his practice. If you missed it on the radio, you may still hear it here.    

Jim Bleikamp here.   I found it a most interesting experience to talk with Brunswick Police Patrol Commander Paul Hansen on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz.   Many don’t realize that nearly two years ago, some quick thinking by Paul kept a tense moment (former…

It’s a process that can take various forms and gives help to countless people every year–but many people don’t know much about it. Occupational therapy is explained on this week’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up on 99-5 WCME by Emily Perro, an occupational therapist at Bridgton…

On this week’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up, Elaine Drew, a veteran certified diabetes educator with much that you need to know about a disease that impacts on the lives of so many.

It will likely be more than a year before construction begins on expanded recreational facilities near the Recreation Center at Brunswick Landing–including a skatepark–in the first phase of this plan. But many are already talking about it. Including two at Brunswick Town Hall deeply involved…

If you’ve ever felt that a job in health care, may be the thing for you, you want to catch this weekend’s WCME Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up. Dr. Monika Bissell runs Maine College of Health Professions, which is expanding. She may have some ideas for…

After a wait lasting for several months, Brunswick High School has a new varsity football head coach. Brandon Dorsett seems to have been born to be involved with football–he comes to Brunswick from Westbrook High School and IMG Academy, a nationally recognized high school football…

Greta Warren, whose day job is serving as operations manager of Maine Conservation Voters, has been unanimously picked by the Harpswell Board of Selectmen to be the next SAD-75 School Board member. She talked a short time later with WCME’s Jim Bleikamp.

Jim Bleikamp here. Like so many here on the Midcoast, I have followed the admirable adventures of the Brunswick boys hockey team–especially in their high-performance post season–leading to a state championship. But I didn’t really know what to expect when they came in on the…

In this month of March–National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month–we hear from a specialist in that field on this week’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up on 99-5 WCME. Dr. Kanishka Bhattacharya is on the staff of Central Maine Medical Center. If you missed it on the radio…

That was the subject on this weekend’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up on 99-5 WCME with Dr. Trustin Ennacheril of Central Maine Medical Center’s Sleep Lab. If you missed it, you won’t find it at all tiring to catch it here.

Brunswick School Superintendent Phil Potenziano tells the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz that  because of more encouraging COVID-19 numbers, he plans to end the school mask mandate on March 14. If you missed it on the radio you may hear it here.

A two-man school board race is soon to be decided in Harpswell–a race with reverberations beyond that town and throughout Topsham, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham–the four towns that comprise the SAD-75 School District.   After earlier hearing from former board chair Tyler Washburn, who desires to return…

Clinical dietician Ellen Grant explains on WCME’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up. If you missed it on the radio you may hear it here.

On Saturday, February 19, 36-year-old Joshua Bailey, a resident of Linnhaven Mobile Home Park in Brunswick, is accused of holing up in his trailer for five hours with knives, as well as kerosene and paint thinner, which when mixed, were potentially explosive. Ultimately the situation…

Dr. Karpman, from the staff of Central Maine Medical Center, was our guest on WCME’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up at the start of Valentine’s week, talking about what else–heart health.   If you missed it–you may hear it here.

It’s February–Heart Awareness Month–and this weekend we listened again on WCME’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up to a conversation one year ago this month on matters of the heart with a man you may know–Dr. David Salko, who is found at Topsham Family Care. If you…

If you missed it on WCME you may hear it here.

Jim Bleikamp talks with Central Maine Healthcare’s Peter Wright, who oversees Bridgton and Rumsford Hospitals, which have received national recognition for strong performance. If you missed it on the radio you can hear it here.

The final words to the SAD-75 School Board of a departing member. Alison Hawkes of Harpswell, a vocal opponent of mask mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions, says she’s resigning and contemplating a move to Florida, where her young son can go to school without a…

Brunswick School Superintendent Phil Potenziano on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz outlining his plan to dismiss students one hour early each Wednesday in order to give teachers and staff more professional development time.

WCME’s Mike Violette looks back on the baseball milestones of the force of nature known as David Ortiz, which have brought Big Papi to the Hall of Fame.   If you’re a Papi fan who missed this on the radio, we’re pretty sure you want…

It takes effect city-wide today–January 24–and Jim Bleikamp talked live with Marc Meyers inside WCME’s 8:00 news update on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz.  

Lindsay Austin is a team leader at CMMC’s Maternity Department and fills us in on a strong review from the magazine U-S News and World Report.

If you missed it on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, here, in its entirety is the speech given in the Senate by Angus King opposing the continuation of the filibuster, which King notes is inhibiting even so much as a discussion of the voting rights…

If you missed Lindsay Gannon of Healthy Androscoggin talking about her program aimed at keeping kids physically active in the pandemic and beyond, you may hear it here.   Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up–Saturday mornings at 9:05 and an encore Sunday mornings at 8:45 on 99-5…

Peter has settled in Bath and over the past year has finally opened up about a long and major early life experience in the group known as the American Sikhs. If you missed him on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, you may still hear him…

With a COVID-19 surge increasingly fueled by the omicron variant, Kathy appeared on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz.

COVID-19 cases in a parallel to statewide trends, is running at a higher level in the Brunswick schools.   School Superintendent Phil Potenziano gave us an update on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz.   If you missed it, you may hear it here.

Central Maine Healthcare Close–the weekend program designed to help you stay healthy–or get there if you are not there.   ONLY on 99-5 WCME.   If you missed it today, you missed Part 2 of our chat with Emily Dooling-Hamilton, tobacco prevention specialist at Healthy…

The sheriff on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz talking about the search for a 15-year-old Mt. Ararat high school student who goes missing and is found–only to leave home again.

He’s been there for 12 eventful chairs and the council’s chair for the last four years.  Monday night was his final meeting, after deciding earlier this year not to seek re-election. Today he spent nearly an hour on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz–looking back and…

We went to the scene of a candlelight vigil in Downtown Brunswick held to remember the 26 victims of Sandy Hook—most of them very young children. And we talked with Maine gun safety activist Lynn Ellis, who says in spite of Maine’s reputation as a…

The drive continues to get more people vaccinated in Androscoggin County at the Auburn Mall. Walk-in vax for anyone and everyone in Maine! An update here from Amy Lee, who is overseeing the project. On WCME’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up.

The Chief makes his monthly appearance on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz and reviews gun regulations in Maine after all the attention given to the school shooting in Michigan, in which four young people died. If you missed it on the radio, you may hear…

This is National Influenza Vaccination Week and we are also still in the midst of the pandemic.   Elise Waber-Hays, an infection preventionist at Central Maine Medical Center, talked about both on this weekend’s edition of WCME’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up.   If you missed…

Brunswick School Superintendent Phil Potenziano on the Buzz in the aftermath of a swirl of controversy and community discussion stemming from allegations of bullying and hazing at a Brunswick High School football retreat in August. The superintendent tells us that there will be more on…

Former Topsham Selectman Bill Thompson on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz joins the ever-growing community chorus in favor of forward motion on a new bridge  over the Androscoggin River between Brunswick and Topsham. If you missed it, you may hear it here.  

Expert analysis from Joanne Kenney Lynch, System Director of Infection Prevention at Central Maine Healthcare. On WCME’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up.

On today’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up, cardiologist Dr. Adam Karpman on the perils of neglecting your medical care during the pandemic. And more. If you missed it on WCME you can still hear it here.

Jim Bleikamp here.   If you missed it on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, you can still hear myself and Nick Blanchard causing each other’s blood pressures to rise.   Nick is the founder of “Maine Patriots With Attitude” in Central Maine, and has a…

Dan, who was just re-elected to a second term as a Brunswick At-Large Councilor, now wishes to go to Augusta as a state representative. Dan’s first interview in the newly announced campaign was on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. If you missed it, it’s right…

The second half of our interview with Dr. Brown, a radiation oncologist at Central Maine Medical Center, talking about one of the deadliest cancers of all.

The Chief appeared on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz to follow up on his Friday report. which found 1) No evidence of sexual assault, a crime based on anatomy and involving assault below the belt. 2) Potential victims of assault were identified. Assault involves “offensive…

Central Maine Medical Center’s Dr. Brown has been helping Mainers battle this demon for years. And now, an update on how the fight is progressing.

Roo Dunn won a two-man battle for the council seat in Ward 4 this past Tuesday. If you missed him on the radio you may hear him here.

Ann is Ann Curtis is a nurse and the director of Central Maine Healthcare’s Maine College of Health Professions. She joined me to talk about the often avoided subject of domestic violence on WCME’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up. If you missed it on the radio…

If you missed it on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, you may still hear Lois here–in four consecutive segments.  

Katelyn talked about stuttering on WCME’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up. You may hear it here.

Denise Carina Shannon, violinist with Midcoast Symphony Orchestra on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz previewing today’s “Welcome Back” concert at 2:30 at Orion Performing Arts Center–inside Mt. Ararat Middle School in Topsham.

Kyle talked about the value and healing power of various forms of physical therapy on WCME’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up. If you missed it on the radio, you can still hear it here.

Dr. Thibodeau is an OB/GYN and a breast surgical oncologist who appeared on WCME’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up during October–Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If you missed it on the radio, you may still hear it here.

Shawn is a 2018 graduate of Brunswick High School who was in special education programs throughout his days in the Brunswick schools, and says he was repeatedly bullied. His story has special meaning in the context  of the current continuing investigation of bullying allegations among…

The superintendent appears the morning after he announced the departure of Head Football Coach Dan Cooper and also released a heavily redacted report from the School Board’s attorney who has been investigating allegations of bullying and hazing during a recent football team retreat.

Dr. Thibodeau, based at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, was our guest on this weekend’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up. If you missed it on the radio, you may hear it here.

Dr. Chris Bowe is Chief Medical Officer at Mid Coast Hospital and updated us on the status of COVID-19 on the Midcoast. If you missed it on the radio, you may catch it here.

On the latest edition of Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up the conclusion of a two-part series on Recovery. Specifically, recovery from substance abuse. The guest is Corrie Brown, Substance Misuse Prevention Coordinator at Healthy Androscoggin–a division of Central Maine Healthcare. If you missed it on the…

Bath Fire Chief Lawrence Renaud, who has served on the department for 34 years, has embarked on a hiring drive. More about it here.

On the latest edition of Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up the start of a two-part series on Recovery. Specifically, recovery from substance abuse. In this month of September–National Recovery Month. The guest is Corrie Brown, Substance Misuse Prevention Coordinator at Healthy Androscoggin–a division of Central Maine…

If you missed this weekend’s WCME’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up, you missed Dr. Dan Rausch talking about his work treating blood disorders and various cancers at Central Maine Medical Center. But you can still hear it here.

He’s been on the Freeport force for 24 years–the last 15 in supervisory positions. Nate Goodman has now been appointed Chief of Police by Town Manager Peter Joseph. Within minutes of his confirmation by the Town Council, he spoke with WCME News. Hear it here.

If you missed this weekend’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up on childhood obesity, you can still hear it at the link below.   Questions and answers from Dr. Gretchen Pianka, pediatrician at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.   Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up twice each weekend…

A topic very much of the moment–vaccine hesitancy.   On this weekend’s edition of WCME’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up.   Questions and answers from Dr. Rebecca Brakeley, a pediatrician at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.   If you missed it on the radio, you…

On this weekend’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-up, we are up close with hunger in Maine and one who is working to lessen the problem. Cecelia Natale is health promotion coordinator at Healthy Androscoggin–a division of Central Maine Healthcare. If you missed it on the radio…

Dr. Renee Thibodeau was our guest on this week’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up. If you missed it, you can hear it here.

In this segment of WCME’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up, you will hear Emily talk about the challenges involved in quitting smoking.

If you missed Emily on Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up over the weekend you can still catch here here.

Senator Angus King, in an appearance today on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” said that President Trump, who has been vaccinated for COVID-19, could save many American lives by publicly getting behind the vaccination effort. You can hear Senator King, who also talked about the infrastructure bill…

Larissa Darcy is the spokeswoman for the newly formed organization “Bridge To The Future”, which supports the Maine Department of Transportation to replace, and not  renovate the bridge.  If you missed Larissa on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, you may hear that interview here.

This weekend on WCME’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up, two big D’s–Diet and Diabetes. A conversation with Allison Bruno, a dietician at Central Maine Medical Center. If you missed it on the radio you may still hear it here.

On this weekend’s WCME Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up, Part 2 of our chat with Dr. Christopher Foote from Central Maine Urology Center–we touched on hot-button issues like erectile dysfunction, medical marijuana as a treatment for some urological issues, and prostate cancer.   If you missed…

Bowdoinham State Representative Seth Berry is the architect of the plan. If you missed this interview, just hours after the veto on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, you can hear it here.

Jim Bleikamp here.   In my coverage of the often exciting and rambunctious SAD-75 School Board, I often found the board’s youngest member (at least in recent times) and also its former chair, Tyler Washburn, to be an intriguing figure–thought he might make an interesting…

If you missed it on the radio this weekend, you can still hear it at the link below.   Questions–the kind that you might ask–and answers from Dr. Christopher Foote, a urology specialist at Central Maine Medical Center.   It’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up on…

If you missed Dr. Salko on 99-5 WCME you can still hear him here.

If you missed this weekend’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up, you missed out on some summer health and safety tips as we emerge from a long pandemic. From Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Flynn from Central Maine Medical Center. But you can still hear it at this link….

Dr. Winoah Henry talked about liver health and liver concerns on this weekend’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up on 99-5 WCME. If you missed it, you may still hear it here.

Part 2 of our two-part interview with Dr. Curtis on WCME’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-Up.  Dr. Curtis discussed the current state of COVID-19 in Maine and talked about what may lie ahead. With a particular emphasis on the impact of the virus on kids.

Dr. Margaret Curtis, from the staff of Central Maine Pediatric, on where we are now in the pandemic, and the short-term and long-term outlook.

Speech difficulty–and speech therapy and speech pathology on this week’s Central Maine Healthcare Close-up on 99-5 WCME. Jim Bleikamp talks with Sara Lewis–a speech pathologist at Bridgton Hospital–an affiliate of Central Maine Healthcare. If you missed it on the radio, you may still catch it…

Jim Bleikamp here. We are periodically reminded by wise people that later on in this life and after this life ends, we may not be remembered so much for what we did, as much as how we made those around us FEEL. If that’s the…

Dante is the grants writer at Midcoast Humane–the Brunswick-based animal shelter. His job is to find grant money to benefit the organization. He also co-hosts the weekly “WCME Creature Feature” Fridays at 8:35 –a part of the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. Where on Friday April…

The superintendent updates the plan for  further reopening all schools on April 26 to in-classroom instruction.

Brunswick Police Chief Scott Stewart on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz talking about the impact of the trial of a former cop in Minneapolis for the death of George Floyd.   In particular, the impact on attitudes about police and the impact on local police…

We talked with the superintendent on the morning after a meeting of the Brunswick School Board, which approved a plan to resume in-classroom instruction at a minimum of four days per week in all schools beginning April 26.

The Chief talking about one of the most difficult and challenging aspects  of police work. You may hear it here.

If you missed Lois on 99-5 WCME you can still catch the interview here.

The chief addressed recent and continuing concern about speeding on Jordan Avenue. You can hear it here.

Midcoast Hospital CEO Lois Skillings briefed the Topsham Select Board on December 3. You may hear her entire presentation here.

With the spike raging and the holidays approaching, we get an in-depth update on COVID-19 and its realities on the Midcoast from Dr. Bove, who serves as Midcoast Hospital’s chief medical officer. If you missed it on WCME you may still hear it here.

On the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, Ryan Holmes, proprietor of the Topsham-based medical marijuana provider Sundog Caregiving, recognized expert on marijuana economy issues and former member of the Topsham Marijuana Committee, with his view of the launch of recreational marijuana sales in Maine. If you…

Here’s what Brunswick school superintendent Phil Potenziano had to say about it. ONLY on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz.

We are proud to be sending a very SWEET message these days on 99-5 WCME. On behalf of Bath Sweet Shoppe on Centre Street in Bath–and its new owners. Jennifer DeChant and Isaac Ensel. It’s right here.

Dr. Bowe appeared on an extended edition of WCME’s Midcoast Morning Buzz to talk about getting ready for flu season and about COVID-19. If you missed it, it’s all here.

Dr. Shah–director of Maine Center For Disease Control, the man who has guided us through the pandemic, on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. We talked about the virus, the life and times of Dr. Shah, and even learned the name of his favorite piece of…

Phil Potenziano on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz just days before the start of a hybrid education plan on Monday September 14. If you missed it you may hear it here.

Dr. Hagler was our guest on a special extended edition of the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. If you missed any part of it, you can hear it right here.

At Wednesday evening’s school board meeting, Brunswick School Department curriculum director Shanna Crofton outlined the so-called “hybrid” plan for education this fall, in the midst of the continuing pandemic. A mix of in-school instruction and online “distance” learning. The initial presentation from Shanna Crofton can…

Jim is a veteran shark researcher, now at Arizona State University, and formerly of the University of New England. Here he is on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz in the aftermath of Monday’s fatal shark attack in the waters of Harpswell.

Jim Bleikamp here. My apologies for taking longer than I would have liked to post the appearance on the Wednesday WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz-of Poppy Arford, the newly-designated winner of last week’s three-woman race for the Democratic nomination for a Maine House seat in Brunswick….

Jim Bleikamp here. I guess you could say that I invited the former Freeport town council chair Melanie Sachs to take a victory lap in the last stanza of today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. After Melanie won the Democratic nomination for the Maine House seat…

Melanie Sachs, who is a former two-term Freeport town council chair, is one of two Democratic candidates for the Maine House seat in District 48 covering Freeport and a part of Pownal. Melanie joined us this past Saturday on the WCME Election Guide. Also invited…

Four-term Brunswick state representative Mattie Daughtry and former longtime senator Stan Gerzofsky are competing for the Democratic nomination for the Maine Senate seat in the 29th district, which includes Brunswick, Harpswell, Freeport, Pownal and North Yarmouth. The primary election is Tuesday. They squared off on…

The three women in a quite friendly race to replace four-term state representative Mattie Daughtry in Brunswick, were interviewed one-on-one on WCME. If you missed it you may hear it here.

The new chief in his first major interview since assuming his new duties in Brunswick–at a transitional moment for American police officers. If you missed any part of it, hear it here.

Luka Baskett, a U-Maine-Farmington student who spent four years at Brunswick High School, and who graduated in 2018, has written a letter calling for an investigation of sexual violence at Brunswick High School. And the new superintendent is listening. Luka talked about her concerns on…

Mark is a month away from retirement after missing out on the chief’s job–which went to former Cumberland County Sheriff’s patrol commander Scott Stewart. And he has a lot to say about the state of policing in general and in Brunswick in particular. If you…

On the Monday June 8 WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, two men who come from very different places in this life, but who have come to know and respect one another over the past week. A relationship formed in the aftermath of the confrontational Black Lives…

Isabella Banks, often known as Izzy, is the president of the class of 2020 at Brunswick High School–the one that because of a global pandemic, will have only a limited graduation in June. Izzy has been class president throughout her four years at Brunswick High….

There are three clips here. 1) Initial questioning of Wentworth by Perreault. 2) Questioning of Wentworth by Watson 3) Subsequent questioning of Wentworth by Perreault  

Jim Bleikamp here. If you haven’t missed my interview with Curt Dale Clark, artistic director of Maine State Music Theater, talking about the end of a season that never began, you may hear it here. Curt begins with a notation that it was not a…

Berry talks about his letter to BIW CEO Dirk Lesko, seeking a temporary shutdown at the shipyard in Bath, and also lodges some new complaints against Central Maine Power, which he seeks to replace with a consumer-owned utility.

42 more cases of Covid-19 just since Sunday in Maine, putting the new statewide total at 275 cases, and after earlier reporting a virus outbreak at Ocean View, the retirement and assisted living community in Falmouth, there is word of yet another outbreak in what…

On Tuesday, March 24, we spent an hour with Dr. Carl Demars of Mid Coast Palliative Care at Midcoast Hospital on the subject we never stop thinking about–coronavirus. We tried to ask him every question that we could imagine that YOU might ask. If you…

Perry was a guest today on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz.  You can hear it here.

On the WCME Creature Feature–a part of the Friday Midcoast Morning Buzz–Kate, who is Midcoast Humane’s community programs manager, provided reassurance that you can’t get COVID-19 from your pet. Hear it here.

Dr. Loeffler is a pediatrician at Midcoast Hospital who addressed the Brunswick school board on this issue Wednesday evening and on Thursday appeared on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. If you missed it, you may hear it here.

And Rota Knott made some news on The Buzz by saying that the homeless services agency is “hitting” pause in its previously announced plans to expand and build a large resource center. This announcement follows a long and emotional debate on homeless shelter zoning regulations…

It’s a major project on which construction will begin in the fall, with a dedication planned for Veterans Day. Hear the update here:  

The Sunrise movement is a growing national coalition of young people battling climate change and also promoting the creation of “green jobs.” In Brunswick, the Bowdoin College chapter of Sunrise was recently successful in convincing the Brunswick Town Council to go on record with a…

On the Monday WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, Keith Carlon, who along with his brother Kevin owns and runs Elevated Remedies, a medical marijuana dispensary in Brunswick’s industrial park, reflects on a recent burglary at his store, and how that got him thinking more deeply about…

The Bath City Council has voted unanimously to allocate $26,000 to the effort, which will involve help from the U-S Department of agriculture. Foxes and other possibly rabid animals will be trapped. Peter Owen talked about the pending effort with WCME’s Jim Bleikamp.

The senator held a 90–minute listening session at Bowdoin College on Sunday and held a brief news conference afterwards. Posted here is the audio of the news conference, which begins with Angus King making the case that the Senate in its deliberations this week should…

Fred is a former attorney, business owner, and longtime resident of downtown Brunswick making another bid for the Maine House in the 49th district, which encompasses about half of Brunswick. But Fred, unlike Mattie Daughtry, the current holder of the seat, is adamantly refusing suggestions…

Brian Beal is a marine ecologist at the University of Maine at Machias who has just completed a study conducted at three marine locations in Maine–one of which is Harpswell. A study into the effect of “brushing” on clam recruitment and survival–putting fir boughs and…

A surprise announcement from Kathy Wilson, who is in her second term on the Brunswick council. But she says she has wanted to do it for years. We spoke at length with Kathy on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz.

Eloise Vitelli appeared on Friday’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. If you missed it, you can hear it here.

The veteran former state senator from Brunswick left Augusta in 2016–not because he wanted to–but rather because he was required to leave by the state’s term-limits law. Three years later he wants his old seat again. Stan’s largest problem is that the popular four-term veteran…

Holly Kopp is also a former chair of the SAD 75 board of directors, and holds a masters in school psychology. She’s challenging incumbent Democratic senator Eloise Vitelli in the 23rd senate district, which includes all of Sagadahoc County and Dresden in Lincoln County. If…

Martha Stein is uniquely positioned to talk about the asylum seekers. From their point of intake in Portland–where she serves as executive director of Hope Acts–an organization supporting asylees. And she also lives on the Midcoast–in Brunswick–where she formerly served as development director at Tedford…

On an extended edition of today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, Andy Sokoloff, bereavement coordinator at CHANS Home Health and Hospice in Brunswick, talked about grief at the holidays and how to deal with it–and related issues. If you missed it, you may still catch it…

There are three seats being filled in Tuesday’s Brunswick municipal election but only one race has more than one candidate–the one for the downtown council seat now held by the retiring Jane Millett. The candidates are Toby McGrath, a veteran political strategist and former deputy…

A third candidate, incumbent selectwoman Marie Brillant, was not a part of the discussion because of a prior commitment. If you missed it, you can hear it here.

Suzanne is a Brunswick-based attorney and president of Brunswick Area Citizens for a Safe Environment, who says the Navy’s plan for dealing with remaining contamination in stormwater at Brunswick Landing is lacking. She explained on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. If you missed it, you…

Dan appeared on Tuesday’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. You can hear it here.  

Berry is the state’s leading critic of CMP–he’s pushing legislation to require the sale of its assets to the state which would then form a consumer-owned utility. His case may be bolstered by an incident in his own district, in which a 71-year-old woman living…

On the Buzz Kathy Izard told a part of the story that has already gripped millions–on NBC’s Today show and all over the country.   In her best-selling book “The Hundred Story Home.”   And tonight at 7:30 she will tell it again at First…

Kevin (r) and Keith Carlon (l)–two brothers born and raised in Brunswick–have become the first proprietors to be licensed to operate a medical marijuana storefront in Brunswick under the terms of the town’s new ordinance–enacted last year. The Carlons have been operating for two months–on…

Louise and Lucie are activists in the Bowdoin College student organization “Bowdoin Climate Change.”  They appeared on the Monday WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz in the aftermath of Friday’s world-wide “climate strike” to show concern about the warming of the earth. They say the Bowdoin College…

Melissa and Cate are focused on disease prevention and on wellness at Midcoast Center for Community Health and Wellness–at Midcoast Hospital’s  Parkview Campus on Main Street in Brunswick. They joined Jim Bleikamp on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz.

Jim Bleikamp here. It was both fun and poignant hearing from Georgetown’s Maureen Stanton on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz–talking about her newly published gaze on the hard highway she rode in the 70s. Not far away–in Walpole, Massachusetts. Just a bit south of Boston….

Today is the drop date for the fifth novel from Bowdoin College creative writing professor Brock Clarke. “Who are You, Calvin Bledsoe?” The story focuses on a small-town Mainer living in the house in which he grew up, who first sees his father and then…

The latest talk about broad-based solar power is in Topsham, where the select board has authorized a solar-advocating citizens group known as Topsham Solar Advocates to consult with both town staff and solar developers with the aim of presenting a solar power purchase plan to…

Seth is a Democratic state representative from Bowdoinham who co-chairs the legislature’s energy committee. He’s also the legislature’s most vocal critic of Central Maine Power, and is pushing a bill that would require the sale of its assets for the formation of a consumer-owned utility–as…

Longtime Bowdoinham state representative Seth Berry, co-chair of the legislature’s Energy Committee, reacts to the very unusual op-ed from Maine’s Public Utilities Commission, appearing in the Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram, which drops as the PUC continues an investigation of Central Maine Power….

Our way of reminding you that help and donations are appreciated in the drive to help the refugees arriving in Brunswick from Portland.   Utilizing the tuneful reflections of the pop icon Neil Sedaka.   You can touch base with Brunswick town hall at 725-6659….

Jim Bleikamp here. Next time when I am prone to complain that my life is overly chaotic, I will think of Abdi Iftin–my guest today on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, who was born 34 years ago in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia in the…

David Watson is Brunswick’s longest-serving town councilor, the only one who wears what we might call a definitive “conservative” label and for that reason and others, he connects with a like-minded group of people in town–not small in size–who have a bond with Watson that…

A whole bunch of people–many of them kids–from 9 to 90–enjoy the carnival rides every year at Bath Heritage Days, and at other spots in Maine. And inevitably the company providing and operating those rides is Smoky’s Greater Shows–a firm that’s been around for 65…

Delightful Friday moments today on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz hosting the award-winning husband-and-wife independent filmmakers Matt Notthelfer and Alicia Wszelaki, whose new film “Flying Fur” is attracting many eyeballs. It’s a documentary focusing on Iraq War vet and private pilot Paul Steklenski and his…

Big fun to spend some time today on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz with Amy Lilly–overseeing Pepper’s Landing–your new stop for lobster and seafood at Merrymeeting Plaza, Bath Road, Brunswick. If you missed it, you can hear it here.

Jim Bleikamp here. Some notable changes are ahead for this year’s massive Heritage Days celebration in Bath over the Fourth of July weekend. For one thing it is no longer simply “Bath Heritage Days”–it is “Bath Heritage Days and Music Festival”–yes with a greater focus…

We at WCME have had a number of requests to post our recent interview with Pete Slovinsky–a coastal geologist at the Maine Geological Survey–a unit of the state department of agriculture.  Pete talks here about how climate change is ALREADY impacting us, what we might…

Annie is a member of the Bowdoin College Class of 2020 who caught the eyes of many on the Midcoast with her recent op-ed in the Bowdoin Orient, which has to do with the gulf that sometimes exists between the college and the community and…

After Mike Violette sounded off on today’s Buzz on the emergence of eight-man football in some high schools in Maine, Mike and Jim Bleikamp tackled an emerging political and educational development in Maine. It so happens that on one day recently, the teenaged son of…

Jim Bleikamp here. Every day-every month-every year at WCME we air a multitude of local voices–it’s a big part of what we do.  Some of them come to the Midcoast Morning Buzz at our studio at Fort Andross in downtown Brunswick and are heard live….

Pender Makin currently serves as assistant school superintendent in Brunswick and has been tapped by Governor-elect Janet Mills to serve as the state’s education commissioner. The first part of this interview dealt with Pender’s background in education including her directorship of the REAL school–the alternative…

The well-known and highly regarded Boston-based sportscaster and Bruins TV host was back in Brunswick this weekend–the place where his broadcasting career began at the age of 15 on WCME—where he was “the voice of the Brunswick Dragons.” Dale was in town to sign copies…

Mari talks about Friday evening’s pre-Christmas celebration in downtown Bath–known as “Bright Night Bath.” And she talks about a few other things. On the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz.

With something of a storm raging in Brunswick over zoning regulations for homeless shelters, we hear the thoughts of the man at the helm of  Tedford Housing, the homeless services agency in Brunswick, which operates two downtown shelters, and has formulated a plan to consolidate…

Mr. Tepler–a member of Beth Israel–Bath’s Jewish congregation–spoke  memorably about anti-Semitism and other forms of prejudice at the vigil in Bath’s Library Park. Very compelling. So much so we played it back in full on the Monday WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. But if you missed…

Rabbi Vinikoor announced a candlelight vigil for everyone in the community Sunday November 4 at 4:30 in Library Park in Bath. On Friday morning November 2 she appeared on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz to talk about a range of issues in the aftermath of…

One of the largest days in Buzz history. How could it not be? We were joined by Maine’s premier humorist Tim Sample, who hung around for an hour after speaking to a breakfast gathering sponsored by the Brunswick Downtown Association. If you missed it, it’s…

If you missed the latest edition of WCME’s ground-breaking “Medicate and Educate–Saturdays at 11AM–the show that covers the ever-changing legal cannabis culture in Maine–both medical and recreational–hear it here. Hosted by Ryan Holmes of Sundog Caregiving/Topsham.  

Jim Bleikamp here. Can’t tell you what it was a pleasure to spend some time on the Friday WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz with a man so wonderfully wedded to the roots of American music. Pat Colwell joined us to talk about a special event Saturday…

Some call it “Med and Ed” for short. Whatever. It’s WCME’s weekly update on medical cannabis and other cannabis issues. Hosted by Ryan Holmes of Sundog Caregiving/Topsham. This week Ryan and co-host RJ talk about security considerations faced by those in the marijuana business.  

It’s WCME’s weekly forum on medical cannabis and other cannabis issues hosted by Ryan Holmes of Sundog Caregiving/Topsham. If you missed this weekend’s edition, you can still hear it here.

If you missed this weekend’s edition of WCME’s weekly forum on cannabis issues, you may still hear it now. It’s hosted by Ryan Holmes of Sundog Caregiving/Topsham. Right here.

One who believes we should is Times-Record columnist Jon Crimmins, who made his case on today’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz. If you missed it, you can still hear it here.

If you missed the August 4 edition of “Medicate and Educate”, WCME’s weekly forum on medical cannabis and other cannabis issues in Maine, and hosted by Ryan Holmes, hear it here:

If you missed it this weekend, here it is again. WCME’s weekly forum on cannabis issues. Every Saturday morning at 11.

Brunswick realtor Tom Cole of Better Homes and Gardens/The Masiello Group, also happens to be the one-time co-owner of WCME in another incarnation–when WCME was based in Boothbay Harbor as an FM station.   So when he heard that we were about to launch a…

Our weekly forum on medical cannabis and other cannabis issues. Saturdays at 11AM. Expertly hosted by Ryan Holmes–proprietor of Sundog Caregiving in Topsham. If you missed this weekend’s edition: hear it here.

It’s WCME’s ground-breaking weekly update on medical cannabis and other cannabis issues 11AM Saturdays. Hosted by Ryan Holmes, proprietor of Sundog Caregiving/Topsham. If you missed this week’s edition, no problem. Hear it here.

A young girl from Wiscasset is at Tufts Medical Center in Boston where doctors are hoping to save her eyesight, after she was bitten on the face by a boxer dog at her babysitter’s home on Raymond Road in Topsham. Dr. Mandie Wehr, chief veterinarian…

It’s WCME’s weekly forum on medical cannabis in Maine and other cannabis issues. Every Saturday morning at 11. Today, your hosts Ryan Holmes and RJ discussed Governor LePage’s Friday veto of medical marijuana reform legislation. If you missed it, you may still hear it here….

The latest edition of WCME’s weekly forum on medical cannabis and other cannabis issues. 11AM Saturday mornings. Hosted by Ryan Holmes, proprietor of Sundog Caregiving, a medical cannabis delivery service in Topsham. If you missed it, hear it here.

Medicate and Educate is WCME’s weekly forum on medical cannabis and cannabis issues Saturday mornings at 11. On today’s edition, host Ryan Holmes launched a discussion about the possible impact of the legalization of marijuana in Canada on the U-S. If you missed it you…

If you missed this week’s edition of “Medicate and Educate”–WCME’s weekly forum on medical cannabis and other cannabis issues–with Ryan Holmes of Sundog Caregiving in Topsham–all is not lost. You can hear it right here. And join us every Saturday morning at 11.

Jim Bleikamp here. It all began with Amelia Tuplin in Lisbon, a woman with heritage in the Micmac tribe and a son on the Lisbon Greyhound football team. She complained last fall about football game between the Wells Warriors and the Greyhounds in Wells, where…

Mike Violette talks sports every morning at 8:10 on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz–it’s a service of Tucker Ford, Bath Road, Brunswick–New England’s fastest-growing Ford dealer. But sometimes it goes beyond sports and after all, Maine politics may be the greatest sport of all. So…

In case you haven’t heard it, “Medicate and Educate” is WCME’s new show at 11 Saturday morning dealing with medical cannabis and other cannabis issues. Hosted by Ryan Holmes, who runs Sundog Caregiving, a medical cannabis delivery service in Topsham. Here is the opening segment…

In case you missed in on WCME Saturday morning, here is the latest installment of our weekly update on medical cannabis and additional cannabis issues. Hosted by Ryan Holmes of Sundog Caregiving in Topsham.  

It’s a brand new 12-acre park in Topsham, with the Cathance River running through it. Saturday June 2 is the day of the grand opening. But a day earlier, Jim Bleikamp talked with two in the know–Topsham Parks and Recreation Director Pam LeDuc and Angela…

Here’s something that might make you feel better if you are having a bad day. Otis, a husky mix, was surrendered by his owners to Coastal Humane Society in Brunswick, because they lacked the knowledge and resources to deal with issues arising out of his…

With Cumberland County District Attorney Stephanie Anderson leaving office at the end of this year after nearly 30 years, a crowded race is on to replace her. Three Democrats, an Independent, and a Republican. One of the three Democrats is veteran Portland attorney Jon Gale….

The debut edition of WCME’s new weekly show on cannabis issues. Hosted by Topsham’s Ryan Holmes. Saturdays at 11AM. If you missed it, you may hear it here.  

The Brunswick school board wants to spend considerably more on the schools in the year ahead than town councilors, who want to limit the tax rate increase to three percent. That has led to some predictable friction, which boiled over both at Wednesday evening’s school…

WCME’s Mike Violette has a problem. He’s predicted that the Celtics will lose their current playoff series to the Philadelphia 76ers. But the Celtics already have a leg up on proving Mike wrong. Because they won the series opener. A not-inflamed Mike discussed the situation…

Jim Bleikamp here. Kelly is a young woman and a senior at Brunswick High School, who in large part, has grown up at the Brunswick Teen Center. She had some tough times in coming of age, and says the teen center and teen center coordinator…

Ben is a school board member and former two-term town councilor. He was heard on the April 2 Midcoast Morning Buzz, defending a plan that calls for a nearly five percent tax hike to fund public education in Brunswick for the 2018-2019 fiscal year.  

On the Monday Midcoast Morning Buzz, a collage of voices from this past Saturday in downtown Brunswick–where almost everyone it seemed was focused on guns. Most of them were there to show support for an increase in gun restrictions. But not all. If you missed…

Mike on some of the latest proposals for speeding up America’s national pastime, and on the outlook for the Brunswick Dragon girls in the Saturday evening Class A South final against the Greely Rangers. If you missed it on the WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, hear…

The forever-skeptical Mike Violette has had an epiphany. In the course of the sparkling 75-24 quarterfinal win in the Maine Basketball Tournament by the Brunswick Dragon girls over the Falmouth Yachtswomen, Mike says he became a big-time believer. If you missed it on the WCME…

Paul’s jersey was retired on Sunday–never to be worn again. Mike looks back and reflects.

Mike on what we fail to appreciate about the current play of the Celtics and the Bruins. If you missed it on Thursday’s WCME Midcoast Morning Buzz, hear it here.

Mike’s thoughts on the benching of the talented Malcolm Butler by Bill Belichick. If you missed them on WCME hear them here.

If you missed Mike on the morning after the Super Bowl on WCME, hear him here.  

LePage and Richardson–The Republican governor and John Richardson, the former Democratic speaker of the Maine House. Every Saturday they are on WCME usually tackling the same subject from diametrically opposed points of view. And sometimes they go their own way.   This weekend, the governor…

2018 Social Security changes. Brunwick-based certified financial planner Eric Simonds ran them down for you on this weekend’s WCME Midcoast Money Memo–every Saturday morning at 11:05. If you missed it, you can still hear it here.