One week after the repeal of Maine’s snack tax on items such as popcorn, chips and pretzels, a number of small-business owners said Monday that they were still trying to determine which products are taxed and which ones are subject to the repeal. As of… Read More
AUGUSTA – Even Rick Bennett has to admit to a knack for being in the right place at the wrong time. A state senator from Norway and the Republican half of the Maine Senate’s unique bipartisan power-sharing team, Bennett jumped into the manufactured home business… Read More
BANGOR – State substance abuse officials announced Monday that – in addition to plans to open a methadone clinic here – they also will look to offer the treatment in Washington County. On the heels of Monday’s news, the Bangor City Council accepted without objection… Read More
The name of the MTV host in Tom Weber’s column of Jan. 6-7 was spelled incorrectly. It is Carson Daly. Read More
FREDERICTON, New Brunswick – Negotiations continued Monday to end the impasse between New Brunswick doctors and the provincial government, but the last-ditch effort was too late to head off a major walkout by physicians. Health Minister Dennis Furlong said talks went on throughout Sunday night… Read More
OTTAWA – The United States has rejected Ottawa’s offer of a compromise in the war over Prince Edward Island potatoes, telling Canada it must follow U.S. demands that include restrictions within Canada. U.S. agriculture officials met Friday to discuss Canada’s reply to a Dec. 29… Read More
PORTLAND – A coalition of business and airport officials has launched a grass-roots effort to recruit an airline to begin nonstop jet service between Portland and Florida, but industry analysts say the group faces a long, uphill battle. “We currently have excellent service to Florida,… Read More
Over the holidays I spent some time in Portland. It was a pleasure to be able to tune into 106.3 and enjoy my kind of music and the Met on Saturday. This experience raised several questions about the latest changes in MBN. You might ask what happened to… Read More
For all the large problems with health care coverage in the nation, here is a small but important one that could be solved tomorrow. About 18,000 kids in Maine are without insurance, but more than half of those could get free or greatly reduced coverage. Hospitals across the… Read More
The U.S. Senate is a singular institution in American government. It is the only body of elected officials, from local school board on up, that is constitutionally exempt from the Constitution’s precept of one person, one vote. It has, through the wisdom of the Framers and two centuries… Read More
SERF is rising. And there is soon to be a tidal wave of trash if the Hampden Planning Board OKs the 20-year expansion that SERF (Sawyer Environmental Recovery Facilities) is asking for. For those who are concerned about the impact a 20-year expansion might have… Read More
Several weeks ago, the computer teacher at the Glenburn Elementary School, Andy Maxsimic, decided to do something special for children who are cancer victims and at the same time, assist in a local project as well. That “something special” will be played out at the school at 9… Read More
I am writing in response to John Simko’s Dec. 29 letter opposing the proposed Maine Woods National Park and Preserve. Simko states that the proposed park would be established through a top-down approach. Quite the contrary. A Maine Woods National Park can only be established through a grass-roots… Read More
I don’t often make congratulatory comments, but the editorial “Don’t press ‘1’” (BDN, Jan. 6-7), concerning the reputation of certain state agencies for behaving less than helpfully with respect to telephone inquiries from callers, leads me to give some praise to an organization which, in my opinion, has… Read More
Gov. Angus King talks out of both sides of his mouth. Out of one side he wants to raise cigarette taxes to offset his budget. Out of the other, he says that higher taxes will make people quit. If everyone is taxed to death on… Read More
In order to control health care costs in this state we need to spend more time acting like children. The cow pasture near my childhood home was never captured by Commie hordes that wanted it so desperately because the boys in my “hood” fought together in its defense… Read More
I agree with Commissioner Martha Kirkpatrick that the debate about water-quality regulation in Maine has assumed a form that is troublesome and counterproductive. The tribes, too, work toward environmental protection and there is much work to be done. The Environmental Department here at Sipayik is charged with the… Read More
In a statement in the Bangor Daily News on Jan. 5, Sen. Susan Collins endorsed the nomination of John Ashcroft for Attorney General of the United States. Having apparently accepted the role as self-appointed poster girl for Republicans claiming to hold moderate socio-political positions, and… Read More
BANGOR – It took all day Monday for a team of lawyers and Justice Andrew Mead to choose a jury to hear the trial of a 38-year-old Corinth man accused of murdering a Kenduskeag woman nearly two years ago. At 4 p.m., a jury was… Read More
WASHINGTON – Five school districts in Maine will share $2.03 million in funds from the Education Department earmarked to set up after-school community learning centers. The grants will be managed by SAD 14 (Danforth), SAD 48 (Newport), SAD 39 (Buckfield), SAD 58 (Kingfield) and the… Read More
David Flanagan, president of Energy East Corp., resigned his post from the company Monday. Flanagan, formerly president and CEO of Central Maine Power Group Inc., had served as Energy East president since the Connecticut-based utility bought CMP for $957 million last year. Flanagan said his… Read More
BANGOR – HoltraChem Manufacturing Co., a chemical manufacturing plant that closed its Orrington operations in September, has sued a Florida-based company for $1.68 million in alleged unpaid bills for several shipments of chlorine, caustic soda and salt purchased on credit over a nine-month period. HoltraChem,… Read More
AUGUSTA – The Task Force on the Maine Learning Technology Endowment on Monday delayed final approval of its report to the Legislature, because the panel is still working out how best to pitch the proposal. The central points of the task force’s recommendations have been… Read More
LEWISTON – Maine’s fledgling computer crimes task force, already overwhelmed by more cases than it can handle, is facing financial uncertainty. In its first six months, the four-member force has analyzed evidence from 94 computers for police departments across Maine, executed 14 search warrants and… Read More
GLENBURN – Four people were injured early Monday evening when a Newport woman’s sport utility vehicle rear-ended a van carrying a family of four on Route 15 near the Bangor city line. All four of the injured – Corinne Leary, 46, of Newport, Cynthia Cadwell,… Read More
OLD TOWN – Members of the building committee Monday night got their first look at preliminary plans for the new $14.2 million elementary school and they were pleased. The public will get a chance to see the proposed design at the school board meeting next week. Read More
ROCKLAND – A Maine Drug Enforcement Agency special agent has been promoted to detective sergeant for the Rockland Police Department. James Pease began working for the department in November 1994 as a patrol officer. He has served for nearly four years as a special agent… Read More
BUCKSPORT – For those worried about lengthy waits when the Waldo-Hancock Bridge renovation moves into full swing, fear not; the inconvenience should be minimal. That’s the prediction according to Project Manager Norman Baker of the Maine Department of Transportation. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
ELLSWORTH – Downeast Health Family Planning announced Monday that the program has been awarded an $11,000 grant to provide free clinical breast examinations and mammography to women 35 to 50 who lack medical insurance. Funding from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation will begin… Read More
ELLSWORTH – The sixth annual Hospice at the Hilltop silent auction and dinner will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Hilltop Restaurant on the Bar Harbor Road in Ellsworth. All proceeds from the evening will benefit day-to-day operation of Hospice in Hancock… Read More
WINTER HARBOR – A boil-water order involving the eastern and western sides of town has been lifted. The orders affected some consumers of water provided by the Winter Harbor Water District. The district said Monday all orders had been lifted since Jan. 6. Read More
HOULTON – The loss of an air-freight carrier for the U.S. Postal Service based at Houlton International Airport is a major blow to the airport and its fixed-base operator, Larson’s Flying Service. “We’ve lost our anchor customer,” a glum Terry Larson said during an interview… Read More
FORT KENT – Registered nurse Alain Bois has been named head nurse for the children and adolescent psychiatric unit, which is scheduled to open in May at Northern Maine Medical Center. Bois, who lives in St. Basile, New Brunswick, is a 1993 graduate of E’cole… Read More
HOULTON – SADs 29 and 70 and the Maine Applied Technology Region 2 (SAVE) have announced job-related programs and courses for the new year. Employee Plu$ will begin at the ACAP Career Center on Monday Jan. 8. This six-week program will build basic job search… Read More
MADAWASKA – The Greater Madawaska Chamber of Commerce annual membership dinner and awards ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Frenchville Community Center. There will be a social hour before the dinner, a guest speaker, and a dance after the… Read More
MADAWASKA – Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent will open new facilities in Madawaska in the coming month. Foremost in the plans will be a cardiac rehabilitation facility where patients with heart problems will be able to take part in an exercise and counseling… Read More
WELLINGTON – A Wellington Girl Scout’s participation in a once-in-a-lifetime research trip to Antarctica has been temporarily grounded by her illness. Rosemary Garrett-Young, a student at Smith College in Northampton, Mass., learned last year that she had received a research scholarship co-sponsored by the national… Read More
NEWPORT – A Plymouth couple received multiple injuries Saturday morning when their vehicle crashed in snowy conditions on Ridge Road. Dennis Bournival, 51, and his wife, Nancy, 45, were traveling north from Plymouth, according to Newport Officer Larry Merrithew, when they lost control of their… Read More
DOVER-FOXCROFT – Womancare will conduct its next 36-hour domestic violence crisis intervention training in mid-February. Two opportunities for training will be offered: 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Thursday, and 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, for a six-week period. After successful completion of… Read More
DEXTER – Town officials learned Friday they have little choice but to help fund an estimated $100,000 cleanup of a privately owned tire pile in Dexter. Town Manager Robert Simpson said Monday he will brief the Town Council on the matter at its meeting Thursday… Read More
Dover-Foxcroft District Court Stephen A. Ames, 29, Sangerville, possession of deer without antlers, $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; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) {… Read More
PORTLAND – Bill Caldwell, a longtime columnist for the Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram, died Friday in a Tucson, Ariz., hospital after a long illness. He was 81. Caldwell retired in 1991 after a 25-year career in which his unabashed love for Maine… Read More
HAMPDEN – A committee will begin the process of evaluating the SAD 22 cost-sharing formula at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, at Reeds Brook School. Created after a petition was submitted to the district’s board of directors, the nine-member group consists of two residents from… Read More
A Bangor man and his girlfriend were both arrested Sunday night following a fight that one of them said involved “yelling, grabbing, choking and swearing.” Bangor police charged Sean M. Adams, 25, and Carol B. Sulzer, 18, with domestic assault after being called to the… Read More
BANGOR – Altrusa of Bangor will sponsor a spaghetti supper from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Shrine Temple, Lower Main Street, to benefit K-9 for Kids camp. Greg Nash will travel across country in search of special therapy dogs to visit the… Read More
HAMPDEN – The public will have an opportunity to comment on Sawyer Environmental Recovery Facility’s proposed expansion when the Planning Board continues its review of the landfill’s site plan at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, at the municipal building. This may be the last time… Read More
ROCKLAND – City councilors heard another earful of opposition to the Samoset Resort’s proposal to build a marina near the Rockland Breakwater from a standing-room-only crowd Monday night. The council was scheduled to consider three procedural steps toward creating a contract zoning agreement with the… Read More
BELFAST – Sobbing uncontrollably, Natachia Ramsey testified Monday that she is unable to remember her actions in the moment she suffocated her 4-week-old son – but that she recalls trying to revive him. “I was trying to breathe into him,” Ramsey told a Waldo County… Read More
APPLETON – Snow tracks leading from Burkettville General Store to an Appleton home led to the arrest of an 18-year-old man, who admitted to stealing four cartons of cigarettes, Knox County sheriff’s Lt. Reggie Walker said Monday. Jesse Lucier, 18, of Appleton allegedly confessed Saturday… Read More
CUSHING – A Camden driver traveling on River Road on Sunday skidded on an icy corner and hit a snowbank, flipping his pickup truck onto its roof. Howard E. Brown, 38, was uninjured, according to a report filed by Knox County sheriff’s Deputy Mark Tibbetts. Read More
CAMDEN – A funeral home was scheduled for the auction block this afternoon, after a failed attempt to get a judge to block foreclosure. Andrew L. Pratt filed a motion in Knox County Superior Court on Friday requesting that a judge stop KeyBank Inc. from… Read More
LIBERTY – Representatives of the state Department of Transportation will be on hand at the town office tonight to explain plans for replacement of the South Liberty Bridge on Route 220. About 500 feet of road would be rebuilt as part of the project. But… Read More
SPRUCE HEAD – An Owls Head man did not require medical transportation Sunday after his vehicle slid on an icy road and struck a rock. Paul G. Merriam, 65, was driving a 1999 Oldsmobile sedan on Rackliff Island Road when he lost control of the… Read More
PORTLAND – A former Portland police officer faces a felony charge for leaving a loaded gun in a place where it was found and handled by his 5-year-old son, who was visiting from Vermont. The Cumberland County grand jury handed up an indictment Thursday charging… Read More
People attending weddings, business functions, parties or support group meetings at the Isaac Farrar Mansion on the corner of Union and Second streets in Bangor enjoy a step back in time when they enter this beautiful, local facility. Wealthy lumberman Isaac Farrar commissioned the mansion… Read More
CONCORD – A top government lawyer ignored historical evidence and relied on “completely implausible” arguments in supporting Maine’s claim to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, New Hampshire’s attorney general said Thursday. he shipyard, on an island in the river that separates the two states, is at… Read More
TOPSHAM – Larry Paradis may have won nearly $6 million, but that doesn’t mean he’ll quit his day job. Paradis, who bought the winning ticket in the Tri-State Megabucks drawing from a Cumberland Farms store in Topsham, told reporters Sunday he and his wife plan… Read More
AUGUSTA – A shortage of vehicle inspection stickers was easing Monday as the state sent stations that perform safety checks fresh batches of decals they had requested for 2001. The Maine Department of Public Safety has received 290,000 new stickers since Friday, and orders have… Read More
WASHINGTON – Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins are joining a bipartisan coalition of their Senate colleagues urging President-elect George W. Bush to include the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program in his fiscal year 2002 budget request. Collins and Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., initiated… Read More
This week I received a letter from a Surry reader that makes for an excellent winter gardening topic: geraniums. I can hear a few of you letting out a moan, but wait! Certainly, there are those among us who would just as soon never set… Read More
I know, I know! The last thing TV viewers need is another sitcom about an oddball extended family. And yes, “Three Sisters” (debuting at 9:30 tonight on NBC) is so packed with female bonding that you may think you’ve accidentally switched to Lifetime or Oxygen. The… Read More
Snow covers the pasture, but the fruits of summer hold court inside the spacious farmhouse that is Lydia Mussulman’s home on the outskirts of Bangor. On the dining room table, an artichoke lies next to a glass jar of bright orange petals from a perennial… Read More
Dear Jim: Our gas rates have jumped 30 percent in one year and heating bills are killing our budget this winter. My 17-year-old gas furnace still works. Does it make sense to replace it with a super-efficient one? – Bob C. Dear Bob: Heating bills… Read More
ORONO – In basketball, there are guys (like the ones who set the picks and make the passes and score when they get open shots) and there are guys. Guys like Vermont’s Tony Orciari. Guys whose coaches expect them to score 20 points a game,… Read More
LINCOLN – Moments after her team’s biggest win of the season, Mattanawcook Academy girls basketball coach Terri Thornton sought refuge in the guidance office for a quiet moment to call her mother. There was little quiet in the halls outside the gymnasium, where parents, friends, school administrators –… Read More
Coach Sharon Versyp and the University of Maine women’s basketball team are dealing with considerable frustration these days. The Black Bears are coming off Sunday’s tough 67-64 loss in a winnable game at Northeastern and have slipped to 4-9 overall, including a 1-4 America East… Read More
According to the black-and-white, just-the-facts language of a basketball stat sheet, Colin Haynes had a forgettable game when his University of Maine team kicked off the new year against Northeastern. He made one shot from the floor … grabbed four rebounds … scored five points. Read More
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I opened up my Jan. 6 Bangor Daily in anticipation of a nice article about Ricky Craven’s new ride with PPI Motorsports and what did I see? Another ignorant, jeering article making condescending references to Ricky’s racing misfortunes the last couple of years. Why, I… Read More
FORT KENT – Kristy Komisarek and Kristen Mitchell each scored 12 points to lead Notre Dame College of Henniker, N.H., to an 84-48 women’s basketball win over the UMaine-Fort Kent Bengals Monday night. Angelique Bourgoin paced UMaine-Fort Kent with 14 points and Nicole Cyr and… Read More
BANGOR – Renee Mick poured in 20 points Monday night to lead Bangor Christian to a 54-50 girls basketball victory over Searsport at Husson College’s Newman Gym. Roni Haverlock chipped in with 13 points and Pam Reitsma added 12 points and 11 rebounds. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
HERMON – Amy Kelley scored 17 points and Holli Nichols added 13 Monday night to spark Foxcroft Academy to a 61-44 schoolgirl basketball victory over Hermon. Dana Frasz chipped in with 10 points for the winners. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
HODGDON – Danielle Fitzpatrick scored 16 points and Lura Griffin netted 13 Monday night to spark Hodgdon to a 51-45 schoolgirl basketball victory over Katahdin. Griffin also grabbed 11 rebounds. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
In her letter of Dec. 29, Abby Holman of the Maine Forest Products Council is confused about the amount of overharvesting that is taking place in Maine’s forests. Maine’s large landowners are cutting down the forest 37 percent faster than it is growing according to the most reliable… Read More
In Dr. Erik Steele’s column (BDN, Dec. 26), he recommends a low-cost, bare-bones health insurance option for Maine workers to prevent businesses from dropping all health insurance for their employees. He suggests Maine spend $100 million for this purpose and the self-interested parties of business, health insurers, health… Read More