MOUNT DESERT, ME — In a 229 to 42 vote, residents chose to remove fluoride from their drinking water, making this town the first municipality in the state to do so, a March 7 Bar Harbor Times story reported.

The town has been adding fluoride since 1963, but the water district, citing recent studies showing the additive's potentially negative effects, was prompted to propose ceasing the practice, the story said.

Water District Manager Paul Slack said in the story, "We're thrilled by the results … It's now going to be a water supply without additives that's going to be safer for everybody."

Slack said he hopes his town will encourage other Maine municipalities to remove fluoride, the article reported.