Call it a rite of spring. A placebo for the winter-tortured mind. For many, Saturday’s St. George River Race will mark the end of winter and the true beginning of spring. Something the calendar points out is here although Mother Nature sometimes has to remind everyone who is… Read More
The University of Maine women’s basketball team played what is generally considered the most difficult schedule in the history of the program during the recently completed season. Among their eight non-conference opponents last season, coach Joanne Palombo-McCallie’s Black Bears took on six teams that qualified… Read More
PORTLAND – The Portland Pirates will open with two home games in the American Hockey League’s New England Division playoffs on April 12 and 14. Individual game tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 9:30 a.m. Monday, March 27, at the Cumberland… Read More
En route to its national championship a year ago, the University of Maine hockey team killed off 21 of 22 penalties in its four NCAA Tournament wins. The power play went 4-for-22 but three of those goals came in the 7-2 quarterfinal win over Clarkson… Read More
For Houlton senior Frank DiStefano, Saturday’s McDonald’s East-West Senior All-Star Games offer him an opportunity he’s been continuously denied for the last three years of his high school career. After two trips to the Eastern Maine Class B finals and another to the quarterfinals without… Read More
PVC-Eastern Maine Indoor Track League Regular-Season All-Star Teams GIRLS FIRST TEAM 60-yard dash: Danielle McCabe (Hampden), Katie Page (Nokomis); 60-yard hurdles: Jani Bosse (HA); Mile: Heather Jovanelli (Brewer); 400 meters: Danielle McCabe (HA); 200 meters: Danielle McCabe (HA); 800 meters: Heather Jovanelli (Brew); 2 mile:… Read More
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Mike Ross belted a solo home run to lead off the 10th inning Thursday, lifting the University of Maine to a 10-9 baseball victory over Wagner College at Willetts Field. Ross’ blast capped a four-homer day for the Black Bears, who… Read More
BANGOR — The “Too Much Fun” team is complete. The board of the Eastern Maine Children’s Museum on Thursday announced the executive director and general contractor for the new museum, set to open in the Freese’s building a scant nine months from now. Project director… Read More
HERMON — Emotions ran high at times during a Thursday night meeting regarding the arrival of a released sex offender in town. About 250 people attended the informational session in the Hermon High School auditorium, at which local law enforcement officials addressed residents’ concerns about… Read More
ABC’s new offering tonight, “Making the Band,” is a case of art filming life that has pretentions of being art. The new series, which debuts from 9-10, is an extension of that which should be a dying genre — reality-based programming. However, the show scores… Read More
PITTSFIELD — A 14-year-old girl faces criminal threatening charges in Pittsfield after she allegedly posted a bomb threat on a computer Thursday morning at the Warsaw Middle School. The alleged threat was discovered on the school’s computer after classes were dismissed for recess, according to… Read More
FREDERICTON, New Brunswick — NB Power is going to spend as much as $40 million to figure out whether it’s worth spending hundreds of millions more to keep the aging Point Lepreau nuclear power plant in operation. The board of directors of NB Power, a… Read More
BIDDEFORD — An eight-day strike against Interstate Bakeries Corp. that cut off the flow of Twinkies, Wonder Bread and other products across the Northeast ended Thursday, union officials said. The company and the union met Thursday and resolved a stalemate over the arbitration process that… Read More
One of Maine’s longest enduring groups has reunited and will play Sunday in Bangor. Alana McDonald, Herb Ludwig and Tom Dean, also known as Devonsquare, are back together after a hiatus of one year from touring, the longest in the threesome’s 22-year history. During that… Read More
MADAWASKA — Little, nimble fingers moved quickly to and from the bags and boxes of condiments that sixth- and seventh-graders brought Thursday for the ploye decorating contest at Madawaska Middle School. Thirteen boys and girls taking part in the contest lined up behind three tables… Read More
CHERRYFIELD — Supporters and critics turned out in force Wednesday for a public hearing on an application by Washington County’s largest blueberry grower to irrigate 6,000 acres of blueberries in the watersheds of three Atlantic salmon rivers. Cherryfield Foods Inc. is seeking to renew its… Read More
AUGUSTA — Wendy Newmeyer, owner of Maine Balsam Fir Products in West Paris, has been named Maine’s Small Business Person of the Year, according to Patrick K. McGowan, New England regional administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration. Newmeyer was nominated for the award by Maine Centers for… Read More
ORONO — Undergraduate student activity fees at the University of Maine add up to big bucks. In the current academic year, the $35 per semester fee levied on each student amounts to $458,000. Yet despite the amount of money involved and the potential for political… Read More
Bangor District Court John Craig, 35, Mattawamkeag, criminal trespass, jail 30 days, suspended, probation six month, restitution of $84; criminal mischief, dismissed; assault, jail 30 days, suspended, probation six months, restitution of $84. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
Old Town and Orono residents can expect their telephones to be ringing from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 25, as volunteers with The Animal Orphanage, which serves those communities, will be seeking donations for its Building and Renovation Fund. We received a most enjoyable… Read More
A Bangor man spent part of his birthday in jail Thursday after his arrest on a disorderly conduct charge, although the man asserted that he had a right to be out of control, as he was 18. Bangor police also charged Brent Hawkes, who turned… Read More
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Thursday threw out a negligence lawsuit filed against the city of Bangor by a motorcyclist who was injured when his vehicle slid in debris at an intersection four years ago. Vacating a Superior Court decision made earlier that would… Read More
Ellsworth District Court George Hagerthy, 34, Stonington, operating watercraft without safety equipment, $60. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if… Read More
Ellsworth District Court William G. Ebehart, 41, Orland, failure to register motor vehicle operating on public way, $100. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++)… Read More
MOUNT DESERT — The third annual Brennen’s Buddies Cabaret will take place at the Neighborhood House in Northeast Harbor 5-7 p.m., Sunday, March 26th. The fund-raiser is sponsored jointly this year by the Mount Desert Island High School drama club and the student leadership organization. Read More
State senators this week got some reinforcing information suggesting that they were correct in their vote to prohibit drivers under 21 from carrying passengers other than immediate family for the first 90 days they are licensed. The information should help the full Legislature support this life-saving measure. Read More
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, Sen. Olympia Snowe and other Senate Republican leaders introduced legislation Thursday intended to protect against continued rising fuel prices. Snowe suggested the legislation during a meeting of the Energy Security Task Force, which was convened by the Senate leadership. Read More
A Monhegan man’s fear that MBNA’s money will undermine the integrity of island libraries (Feb. 23) raises one of several reasons MBNA should not be allowed to buy its way into local educational institutions. UMaine, for example, has demonstrated it will not let principles stand… Read More
If either George W. Bush or Al Gore enjoys a 40-percentage-point lead in the polls over his opponent on Nov. 3, he probably won’t worry too much about how things turn out on Nov. 17. But in Russia, where Vladimir Putin, the current president, enjoys just such a… Read More
Last year the New York Times’ Pulitzer Prize winning foreign affairs columnist, Thomas L. Friedman, published “The Lexus and the Olive Tree,” his examination of globalization and the forces unleashed, in part, by the rapid spread of information based technology. With an eye toward the… Read More
BANGOR — Travel plans for thousands of Mainers may be disrupted at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, if flight attendants for US Airways go on strike. In Maine, US Airways primarily operates US Airways Express flights from Bangor International Airport and Portland International Jetport. Five round-trip flights… Read More
AUGUSTA — A coalition of seven advocacy groups announced its opposition Thursday to the proposed sale of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine to Anthem Insurance Company Inc. The $120 million sale to Anthem, an Indiana-based company, was billed as a way to allow… Read More
PORTLAND — Despite chronic concerns about overfishing, Maine’s lobster catch last year soared to another record high, coinciding with a solid rise in prices that also set a record. Updated figures for 1999 from the National Marine Fisheries Service show Maine lobstermen landed 52.3 million… Read More
The sky was dark the day I spotted Michael Kimball in a steamy diner in one of Maine’s dozy little back towns. He was having a cup of coffee, stirring it rhythmically and staring solemnly through the window. From outside, he looked like something out of a moody… Read More
BANGOR — Justice Andrew Mead on Thursday reduced the bail set on Gregory Thomas Murray, the Bangor man accused of displaying a holstered gun in the lobby of the Margaret Chase Smith Federal Building earlier this month. During the bail review in Penobscot County Superior… Read More
BELFAST — There’s a new gun in town and the cops don’t like it. Replicas of real semiautomatic handguns arrived at the Belfast Army & Navy this week. The guns are so realistic in appearance that store employee Joe Sanborn decided he’d better alert the… Read More
ALFRED — The York County Sheriff’s Department and the Maine State Police are warning people that the first con artists of spring have arrived. They knock on doors looking for work like fixing roofs or cutting trees before demanding outrageous sums of money. Some people… Read More
ST. STEPHEN, New Brunswick — Firefighters battled a major blaze in downtown St. Stephen early Thursday. Eyewitnesses said much of a three-building block of King Street was involved. Two businesses were destroyed and others had smoke and water damage. The buildings on the block are… Read More
Jackie King doesn’t consider herself a Maine country music pioneer. Even after 41 years in the business, she still perceives herself as just the girl singer in the band. Those behind Maine’s Country Music Pioneer Show felt otherwise, naming the East Holden woman its honoree… Read More
AUGUSTA — With Thursday’s resolution of the delivery strike by the Teamsters union, Mainers once again will find Twinkies on store shelves today. But they’ll still have to pay a 5 1/2-cent state sales tax to get their junk food fix. Still, consumers may have… Read More
PORTLAND — State figures show that all but one of Maine’s six health maintenance organizations were awash in red ink last year, a sign that the cost of coverage will continue to rise. “Right now, the health insurance system isn’t taking in enough in premiums… Read More
HANCOCK — A meeting called to discuss blasting in the town’s undeveloped zone turned into a dispute between cold, hard scientific fact and plain and simple Down East logic. At issue Thursday afternoon was why blasting in the quarry operated by Harold MacQuinn Inc. apparently… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE — First Citizens Bank will award $2,500 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors. The bank’s scholarship program is in its sixth year. Applications and eligibility requirements are available from guidance departments of high schools in the bank’s service areas and at any… Read More
MADAWASKA — Any resident who may have favored a new comprehensive plan for the town, but didn’t show up for Wednesday night’s special town meeting, probably was hitting his head against the wall Thursday when he found out that the plan’s passage failed by one vote. Read More
Wellington Residents will decide at the annual town meeting Saturday whether to raise $30,000 for resurfacing the Huff’s Corner Road. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i… Read More
ALTON — The annual town meeting has been set for 10 a.m. Saturday at the municipal building. The registrar of voters will be available at 9:30 a.m. for new registrations. The warrant will include several appropriation items including $37,000 for the refuse account, $25,000 for… Read More
Sangerville Taxpayers will be asked at the annual town meeting Saturday to approve the purchases of a new firetruck, a pressure washer for cleaning equipment, and a tractor for sweeping streets, mowing and clearing snow. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
BANGOR — Bangor Adult Education and the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety will hold a driving dynamics course from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at Bangor High School. Completion of the course will carry a three-point credit on driving records. Register by calling… Read More
ETNA — Kindergarten registration will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, April 10, at Etna-Dixmont Elementary School. Children must be 5 on or before Oct. 15 and have up-to-date immunizations. Parents may make an appointment by calling 234-2491. Read More
CALAIS — Plans for a residential care facility for troubled youths on Palmer Street extension remain on track, but the school committee Wednesday questioned the project organizer about any possible changes to the project. Dr. Steven Dawson of Washington County Psychotherapy Associates met with the… Read More
PEMBROKE — Fifteen Marine Patrol officers sought illegal clam diggers Wednesday at Cobscook Bay, but an early tide apparently kept most of the clammers in bed. Officials said afterward that Marine Patrol teams had issued 10 summonses and four warnings for shellfish violations and clamming… Read More
EAST MACHIAS — SAD 77 Superintendent Ashley LeBlanc said Thursday there is no truth to reports that a student at the Elm Street School brought a weapon to the elementary school last week. “There was no weapon brought to school,” said LeBlanc. “We did have… Read More
FORT FAIRFIELD — The chairman of the Town Council, Ronald Jalbert, resigned Wednesday, citing personal reasons. Another council member, Steve Ulman, was elected to the chairman’s position, while the council will appoint a replacement to finish Jalbert’s term, which expires in 2001, according to Town… Read More
In an effort to save about $99,000, the neighboring towns of East Millinocket and Millinocket are hiring the same firm to prepare two new and separate appraisals of Great Northern Paper Inc.’s mills. The paper company, the largest taxpayer in both communities, is disputing its… Read More
THOMASTON — The town’s police department is back up to full force with the hiring of a new officer. Michael Jarrett, 33, of Bradley was hired Wednesday to occupy a fifth police officer slot, a position the town has had difficulty keeping filled for various… Read More
The March 15 letter, “Becoming a flood,” made me want to respond. Telling about Thoreau not having a trolley system didn’t make much sense, as Thoreau had guides and others to care for his needs. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
The March 21 story on the commercial use of “squaw” is puzzling. My understanding of the issue is giving certain geographic locations listed on Maine maps an alternate name. Nothing in the proposed legislation that I am unaware of would effect the commercial use of the word squaw… Read More
In our rush to grant China open trade status, we fail to appreciate how hypocritical this appears to Pan American nations. Every rationale we use to justify this policy can also be applied to Cuba. For a plethora of moral, economic and pragmatic reasons, the… Read More
I too attended the Penobscot Theatre play, “The Children’s Hour” by Lillian Hellman referred to in Bonnie Cone’s letter (BDN, March 20). This is a play about lies and rumors. It is grossly unfair for Cone to shift responsibility (and blame) onto Penobscot Theatre for something she could… Read More
Is your headline writer reading the same story that I am in regard to Dawn Gagnon’s story on the Clinton oil plan in the March 20 issue? Certainly not “Clinton oil plan applauded” — lukewarm support at best from one source and less than that from the others. Read More
Last month VFW Post 11553 sponsored a Red Cross blood drive. We would have been far short of the 63 pints of blood had it not been for the young men and women of Narraguagus High School. Thanks, you did your part. Philip Gaudette Columbia Falls… Read More
If Rep. Henry Joy of Cyrstal has knowledge of criminal or unethical behavior, the citizens of this state should have knowledge of behavior. It is the duty of the print media to investigate behavior and to publish the results of an investigation. Readers can form their own opinions. Read More
Because Dr. Erik Steele appears to be an enlightened, well-thinking physician and I’ve enjoyed his columns, I felt it my duty to write and further his education. His perjorative use of the word “witch” in his March 21 column must come from his ignorance about witches and their… Read More
Reed Plantation Residents at the town meeting Saturday directed the town manager and fire chief to investigate financing for a new firetruck for the community of about 200 people. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner… Read More
AUBURN — It may not be easy to find a new use for the Maine State Prison. At a brainstorming session Thursday, consultants and state Department of Corrections officials discussed how it would be costly to renovate a facility with unusually thick concrete walls. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
CAMDEN — The skate park MBNA New England wants to build for Camden-area youth will be quieter than most, and safer than any, company officials told neighbors Thursday afternoon. But the 10 or so neighbors who attended the information session seemed to remain concerned. Several… Read More
Dover-Foxcroft District Court Matthew G. Belinski, 28, Greenville, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, $200, $150 suspended; possessing marijuana, $200. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length;… Read More
GUILFORD — The Piscataquis County Economic Development Council will be host to eight professionals from northern New England who will spend four days in Piscataquis County for a community sustainability meeting with local organizations, businesses and individuals. The exchange is offered by the Quebec-Labrador Foundation… Read More
NEWPORT — SAD 48’s plans to build two new middle schools comes down to the wire Tuesday, March 28. A referendum in each of the district’s six towns will allow taxpayers to decide if the projects will move forward. With voter approval, two identical schools… Read More
ST. GEORGE — The cause of a fire that destroyed a boat shop, outbuilding and two large fishing vessels at Clark Island Boat Works was under investigation Thursday by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Fire Chief Tim Polky said Thursday afternoon that while the origin… Read More
ELLSWORTH — City residents could see a slight increase in property taxes if the proposed municipal budget passes. The proposed $13,570,518 budget includes a $5,041,862 city budget, an increase of $204,023 from the current level. It also assumes a school budget of $8,528,656, which is… Read More
BINGHAM — Directors on Wednesday night considered closing an elementary school for budgetary reasons, explored the option of resolving the tuition impasse with The Forks and hired a new superintendent for next year. Meeting more than three hours at the Quimby Elementary School for a… Read More
Calais District Court Sharon M. Bell, 34, Baileyville, sale and use of drug paraphernalia, dismissed. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice())… Read More
The March 20 letter regarding the health care crisis hit the spot in my home. My husband received an increase in his Social Security only to have it gobbled up by rising health care costs. It not only took his increase but much more. When… Read More
ASHLAND — A boating safety course sponsored by SAD 32 Adult Education and the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, April 25-27, in the technology classroom at Ashland Community High School. State certification will… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE — Maine high school seniors can apply for HP Hood’s Milk Money scholarships during the Milk Money Tours Aroostook County from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at the Aroostook Centre Mall. Qualified applicants, who will have to sing the “County… Read More
CARIBOU — Aroostook Mental Health Center will offer free, anonymous screenings from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on National Alcohol Screening Day, Thursday, April 6, at AMHC outpatient offices in Houlton, Caribou, Presque Isle, Fort Kent and Madawaska. For information or directions to offices, call… Read More
CARIBOU — Aroostook Mental Health Center’s annual Aroostook Teen Leadership Camp is accepting applications from pupils who will enter grades eight and nine this fall. Deadline is Friday, April 14. ATLC is an intensive leadership institute for middle school pupils to create a network of… Read More
ELLSWORTH — It seems previous tenants of a building Hancock County is buying for office space may have left a few things behind: asbestos, lead paint and possibly radon. Hancock County commissioners reviewed a survey of the State Street building Thursday morning. The survey detailed… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE — The University Distinguished Lecture Series will continue at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, at the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s campus center. Kent L. Wommack, vice president and executive director of the Maine Nature Conservancy, will speak on “Seeing the Forest… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE — The University of Maine at Presque Isle will hold a business breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 29, in the campus center. Perry B. Newman, Maine’s first director of international trade and the president of the Maine International Trade Center, will speak… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE — The University of Maine at Presque Isle will hold a poetry reading at 3:30 p.m. Monday, March 27, in the campus center to celebrate the arrival of poetry books bought through the Katharine O’Brien bequest. The funds are a part of a… Read More