Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 O C T O B E R 1 9 , 2 0 1 5 to deny a permit for the company to install wireless communication equip- ment on a water tower. e Forecaster reported U.S. District Court Judge Jon D. Levy ruled Sept. 30 that the town was wrong to block the company from building on top of the empty town- owned water tower on Avon Road. e wireless company fi led suit in 2014 after a town committee denied its appeal of the town's decision. Verizon had sought a permit to install wireless equipment on the water tower that has been drained since 2007 — equipment the company said was necessary to address a coverage gap in town. Verizon now will go before the planning board for site plan review, the Forecaster reported. e judge ruled in favor of the town on Verizon's other claim, that the town violated the federal Spectrum Act, which requires munici- palities to approve any changes to an existing wireless tower or base station as long as its measurements are not altered. UNE professor receives $493,000 in NOAA grants A University of New England marine sciences professor was recently awarded two federal grants totaling more than $493,000 to fund studies aimed at improving the commercial fi shing industry and the environment. e two grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will research ways to reduce the deaths of Atlantic cod accidentally caught in lobster traps in the Gulf of Maine and Dusky sharks unintentionally caught during commercial pelagic longline fi shing, according to a press release from UNE, which has campuses in Biddeford and Portland. e recipient of the grants, professor James Sulikowski, said Dusky sharks are one of the most vulnerable shark species in the western North Atlantic Ocean due to the inci- dental catch, which could have drastic eff ects on its population. He said failure to reduce fi shing mortality for the sharks could cause more fi shing restric- tions. e second grant will fund a study to determine the post-release mortality rate for Atlantic cod that are acciden- tally caught in lobster traps. Recreational fi shing for cod is prohibited, and the commercial quota has been signifi cantly reduced because of signifi cant declines in population in recent decades, accord- ing to Sulikowski. N O T E W O R T H Y S O U T H E R N Groundbreaking was held on Biddeford's Riverdam Mill for an 80-unit apartment complex, the Lofts at Saco Falls. The $15 million conversion is expected to open in August 2016. Portland-based DiMillo's Yacht Sales acquired Acadia Yachts Sales, a yacht dealership and brokerage fi rm in Oxford, Md. In addition to the Oxford location, DiMillo's said it will open a location at Shady Oaks Marina in West River, Md., just south of Annapolis. Along with the two Maryland sites, DiMillo's has Maine locations in Portland, Belfast and Freeport, as well as Glen Cove, N.Y. Bangor Savings Bank said it plans a $10 million expansion in Portland, includ- ing a 7,300-square-foot offi ce building and bank branch at 20 Marginal Way. Gouldsboro lobster processor to boost production with investment — Do the math: More lobsters = more jobs L.L.Bean boots already on back-order — Boots boost Bean's bottom line Maine apple crop more plentiful than last year — Big Mac attack MEMIC announces $18M dividend for 17,000 Maine policyholders — Safety first mantra pays off Portland sustainability startup wins $100,000 investment in pitch competition — Elevator pitch takes Rapport straight to the top Trans-Pacific Partnership clears key hurdle — But public still doesn't know its details Human rights commission rules against Day's Jewelers — Racial jokes are never 'friendly' PUC to mull investigation in Texas energy company — Dubious marketing Former T-Mobile employee to sue over harassment at Oakland call center — Cascading impact of unwanted advances Historic rainfall in Portland slowed shoppers Wednesday — Rainy day blues bathsavings.com Ready to grow your business? talk to a neighbor.

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