AUGUSTA – An increasingly small segment of the population, nationally and in Maine, are paying a huge share of the income taxes that pay for most government programs. In 1998, the latest figures available, the top 2 percent of Maine income tax filers paid more than 33 percent… Read More
ENFIELD – An 11-year-old boy told police he brought a loaded handgun to school Wednesday for protection from an older pupil who was bullying him, police officials said. No one was injured when the semiautomatic .380 weapon discharged in the upstairs boys’ bathroom at the… Read More
AUGUSTA – Although foot-and-mouth disease may sound like a plague of the Middle Ages, the deadly livestock disease is sweeping through England’s farmland and into Europe, prompting Maine officials to set up a task force to protect the state’s livestock industry. Agriculture Commissioner Robert W. Read More
A business page quotation in Wednesday’s editions misstated Bonnie Young’s position at Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium in Bar Harbor. Young and her husband are the store managers. A story in some editions Wednesday incorrectly reported the origin of the bronze bell that now hangs… Read More
WASHINGTON – A conservative organization has begun airing radio ads in Maine, urging residents to call their senators and “ask them to be heroes and support President George W. Bush’s tax cut plan.” The United Senior Association (USA), a conservative, nonprofit, public interest organization, is… Read More
Lower interest rates may make investors on Wall Street happy, but what they do for everyday working people with families, a mortgage and mounting credit card debt is less clear. Financial experts in much of northern and eastern Maine said Wednesday that while the lower… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – U.S. agricultural officials have proposed a plan that would allow some movement of potatoes from Prince Edward Island, where the potato wart was discovered last fall. If the Canadian government accepts the plan, island spuds eventually could be permitted back into U.S. Read More
Tom Weber’s column (BDN, March 10-11) on youth violence took the easy way out. I understand it would be difficult, maybe even offensive to others, if we bluntly told the truth that we parents are very much to blame for raising angry, unrepentant children. Parents who feed their… Read More
Never mind that months of unrelenting protest by listeners gave Maine Public Radio little choice but to undo some of the programming changes that started the ruckus. MPR executives and trustees deserve some credit for eventually recognizing unrelenting protest when they finally see it, and being a bit… Read More
Though necktie-less informal Fridays abound in offices, male models in fashion ads mostly go without ties (and seem to have trouble buttoning their shirts) and some years ago in Israel, a Labor Party member of the Knesset went to court with his outraged complaint that a newspaper had… Read More
I am writing to correct a previous letter to the editor that was loaded with misinformation and half-truths. The Levant Library Committee is not asking the town of Levant to build our library with tax dollars. There is a community development reserve account that was the result of… Read More
International Paper should accept the Maine Wood Innovation buyout offer. By doing so, IP will demonstrate that it has a higher responsibility to the employees and the community beyond the motive of profit alone. IP has an opportunity to lead corporate America and set new… Read More
As a fourth-generation Mainer, I take issue with the feature, “Bucking a Trend” (BDN, March 9). Have we forgotten about real traditions? My grandparents told me about what Maine used to be like: small family farms, community integrity, fewer cars, quiet villages and a vibrant… Read More
We are responding to the March 10-11 column, “Nurse executive defends profession.” The Maine State Nurses Association (MSNA) is confident Eastern Maine Medical Center nurses are competent and caring individuals. We are proud of their professionalism and the professionalism of nurses throughout Maine. EMMC has… Read More
Letter writer Bill Arp (BDN, March 10-11) asks, “What article of the Constitution gives the federal government authority to spend taxpayers’ money on any educational program?” The simple answer is Article I. Specifically, section viii. Line one gives the Congress the power to “lay and… Read More
It’s that time of year. United Way of Eastern Maine volunteers are getting ready to review the agencies and decide how to distribute the funds that were raised last fall. At the campaign finale celebration we announced a projected total of $2,589,976, which represents a 3.3 percent increase… Read More
State Sen. John Martin has raised a critical issue regarding the shortage of primary care physicians in rural Maine. He has proposed a new medical school at the University of Maine. Is this the right solution? Maine has a medical school dedicated to primary care… Read More
The last time I saw Mikey was Oct. 17, 1991. I was a reporter who’d just covered a murder trial. He was a 12-year-old boy who’d just seen Richard Uffelman convicted for murdering his parents. We sat in a Houlton diner, talking about the two-week… Read More
BANGOR – As a handyman attached brightly painted plywood clowns and trees to the white picket fence dividing the center court, Nancy Coffey and Tricia Cox of the Bangor-Brewer YWCA reviewed the list of food and gift vendors whose booths will be set up in the Bangor Auditorium… Read More
FORT FAIRFIELD – The Army Corps of Engineers, which designed the levee built to protect Fort Fairfield’s business district, has admitted it made a mistake when the pumping station pipes were placed too close to the surface, allowing them to freeze during the winter. That… Read More
WALDOBORO – Students are standing up for – or sitting out – Medomak Valley High School’s attempt to revive daily recitation of the century-old pledge of allegiance to the U.S. flag. And Principal Robert Strong says it’s been a lesson in itself. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
ELLSWORTH – A state veterinarian has placed an Ellsworth riding stable under a 45-day quarantine after one of its horses tested positive for rabies. The Crossroads Equestrian Center, a riding, training and boarding facility, along with eight horses, were quarantined Wednesday afternoon. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
WASHINGTON – Federal energy regulators are not providing information about energy issues at a pace to keep up with the market, a Maine public utilities commissioner told a Senate committee Wednesday. The commissioner, William M. Nugent, told the Senate Energy Committee that more than 20… Read More
NEWPORT – The town’s cemetery investment account could have lost $60,000 in the stock market over the past year, Jeffrey O’Sullivan of Paine Webber told selectmen Wednesday night. Instead, a conservative approach helped the account sustain its traditional income and grow between 2 and 3… Read More
Bangor police are investigating the theft of a number of musical instruments from a truck parked at Northern Kingdom Music at 347 Harlow St. A store representative reported to police Wednesday morning that someone entered the locked, capped bed of his company truck that was… Read More
Bangor District Court Frank B. Higgins, 44, Eddington, operating motor vehicle with expired license, $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++) { if (isMobileDevice())… Read More
HAMPDEN – The town must pay more than $47,000 in legal fees incurred by Sawyer Environmental Recovery Facility during litigation on the landfill’s proposed expansion, a Penobscot County Superior Court judge ruled last week. SERF is entitled to recover attorneys’ costs since it successfully argued… Read More
LEVANT – Voters will be asked tonight to take a first step toward building a town library, estimated to cost about $300,000. The special town meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Levant Elementary School. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
BAR HARBOR – A new harbor taxi service could draw thousands of additional visitors to downtown merchants during the peak tourism season, a businessman said Wednesday. Marc Brent’s Acadia Whale Watch Co. will operate the small ferries beginning in June. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
BAR HARBOR – Police believe a thief used a pulp truck to steal more than $8,500 of lumber from a piece of property on Indian Point Road last week. Christopher Buzzell had the tree-length logs stacked on his land, which is located in a wooded… Read More
CASTINE – If you were looking for answers, the field house at Maine Maritime Academy was the place to be Wednesday. That was the site of the School Union 93 Inquiry Celebration during which hundreds of kids from Blue Hill, Brooksville, Castine and Penobscot displayed… Read More
FRENCHVILLE – Town officials are not sure what needs to be done with municipal facilities, but they do know expansion is needed for both the town office and fire department. On Monday night, residents approved a proposal to hire an engineering firm to look at… Read More
PRESQUE ISLE – The Maine Family Development Accounts Coalition – 10 community action agencies and Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community – are assisting low-income families build assets which will allow them to plan their financial future. A family development account is a savings… Read More
CARIBOU – Preschool and kindergarten pupils may register by appointment only Tuesday through Thursday, May 1-3, at the Caribou School Department. Parents must bring birth certificates, guardianship papers, if applicable, immunization records, and an information packet that was sent to parents before registration. For an… Read More
CARIBOU – Caribou Business and Professional Women will accept applications for its three 2001 scholarships. One scholarship is for a high school senior, one for a college student entering the junior year, and one for a nontraditional student to develop skills. Deadline to apply is… Read More
FORT KENT – The Battered Women’s Project will hold volunteer crisis advocate training from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, April 24-May 15, at Fort Kent. Continuing education credits are available. For information or to register, call 834-7395. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
Houlton District Court David C. Boles, 27, Houlton, displaying fictitious vehicle certificate, $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++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if… Read More
Castle Hill CASTLE HILL – Residents raised money for a new fire station and adopted an amended land use ordinance in the 45 minutes they spent on Tuesday deciding the municipal budget. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
MADAWASKA – The Madawaska Middle School and High School complex will be a busy place this summer with three, and maybe four, construction projects costing about $300,000. The Madawaska School Board’s Capital Improvements Committee reported Monday night that three projects will be completed, and a… Read More
INDIAN TOWNSHIP – Two years after becoming Passamaquoddy governor in a divided race, Richard Stevens on Wednesday credited a group called Under Our Wings with taking the lead in developing some new options for the reservation, including next month’s planned reopening of a community bowling alley. Read More
GUILFORD – A 32-year-old Danforth educator was hired Tuesday to take the helm in SAD 4. Matthew Oliver, principal of East Grand School in Danforth, was awarded a two-year contract and a salary of $63,000 to serve as superintendent of schools. He will start his… Read More
Machias District Court Daniel L. Rogde, 41, Jonesport, violation of Marine Resources regulations, $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++) { if (isMobileDevice()) {… Read More
A measure that would require seaweed harvesters to obtain written permission from shorefront-property owners goes to public hearing today in Augusta before the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources. The bill also seeks to repeal the authority of the state marine resources commissioner to… Read More
MONSON – About 25 people decided Monday how much the town will spend in the 2001-2002 fiscal year. Since there appeared to be nothing controversial on the 48-article warrant, few attended the annual town meeting to vote on the $267,222 municipal budget, according to Town… Read More
Bangor District Court Matthew J. Dichard, 32, Bucksport, violating protective order, bound over for jury trial; violating condition of release, bound over for jury trial. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var… Read More
LINCOLN – A proposal to reorganize the Lincoln area hospital district into a new private, nonprofit corporation will be considered by a panel of state lawmakers next month. At 7 tonight, the district will hold a second public forum at the hospital to explain the… Read More
CHESTER – Residents approved a municipal budget of $257,377 during the annual town meeting Monday. Although the town’s overall budget increased by $34,552, the amount raised from local taxes is lower than last year. The amount approved to be raised from local taxes is $40,998,… Read More
MILLINOCKET – Mark Kontio, Maine aide to U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, will hold office outreach hours in Millinocket and Lincoln on Thursday, March 29. Kontio will be available from 1:30 to 3 p.m., on the second floor of the Millinocket Municipal Building, and from… Read More
LINCOLN – A free developmental screening will be held by SAD 67 and Child Development Services for children ages 3 to 4, as well as those 5 years old who are not eligible to enter kindergarten. The screenings will be held from 9 a.m. to… Read More
MILLINOCKET – Paulie Heath, singer, pianist and songwriter, will perform at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 25, at I Care Ministries, 45 Spring St. Heath writes and sings inspirational contemporary songs. She studied music in college and in 1997 produced a full-length album, “Hymns.” googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
EAST MILLINOCKET – A free developmental screening will be held for children ages 3-4 and those 5 years old not eligible to enter kindergarten, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 11, at the Opal Myrick Elementary School. For information or appointment, call 746-3500. Read More
PITTSFIELD – At the height of the workday Wednesday, more than 1,666 Central Maine Power customers in Pittsfield and Burnham were left in the dark. A faulty insulator is being blamed for the outage, which began at 11:05 a.m. and ended just more than an… Read More
HAMPDEN – Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, at the municipal building during the special election for the District 2 council seat. Candidates on the ballot will be Carl E. Pease and Thomas B. Brann. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
Cushing CUSHING – Voters at Tuesday’s town meeting decided to set aside $70,000 toward a revaluation of properties, Assessor Chris Schmidt reported Wednesday. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i =… Read More
SURRY – Kindergarten screening will be held at the Surry Elementary School on March 27. Parents are asked to call the school office at 667-9358 to set up an appointment. Eligible children must be 5 years old by Oct. 15. Parents need to bring their… Read More
ELLSWORTH – The Ellsworth School Department will hold its kindergarten registration and screening April 4-5 at the Dr. Charles C. Knowlton School. Eligible children must be 5 years old by Oct. 15. Parents need to bring their child’s proof of immunization and a copy of… Read More
GUILFORD – SAD 4 directors are taking on the task of projecting the educational needs and best uses of district facilities for the next five years to address an enrollment decline and the loss of state subsidy. Members of the SAD 4 building, grounds and… Read More
GREENVILLE – The cause of a fire Wednesday afternoon that damaged a Pritham Avenue home is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Although Greenville fire officials do not think the fire was suspicious, they requested help in determining the fire’s origin in a… Read More
MONTPELIER, Vt. – A Maine environmental group says the Vermont governor’s suggestion that a new coal-fired power plant is needed in that state is “a bad idea” and represents “backward thinking.” Gov. Howard Dean made the comment on Tuesday, saying Vermont needs the power source… Read More
PORTLAND – At least four western Maine counties will be getting some help from the federal government with costs arising from the severe winter storm that hit the region early this month, officials said Wednesday. President Bush approved Gov. Angus King’s request for a disaster… Read More
Tickets are still available for the art auction to benefit Bangor Area Visiting Nurses and Hospice of Eastern Maine beginning with a preview at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 29, at Pilots Grill in Bangor. According to Debbie Jacques of BAVN, 101 tickets need to be… Read More
KENNEBUNK – The Brick Store Museum’s newest acquisition may be its most valuable: an antique chest of drawers donated by three sisters with ties to the Kennebunk area. The so-called Capen Perkins Chest, made in 1685 at a joinery shop in the Ipswich, Mass., area,… Read More
PLYMOUTH – A pile of rubble stands on Route 7 where the Maine Department of Transportation’s salt and sand shed stood near the Interstate 95 exit at Plymouth. One week ago, the 13-year-old dome-shaped building came tumbling down, apparently without any witnesses. On Wednesday, crews… Read More
RUMFORD – A car-truck crash on U.S. Route 2 claimed the life of an 82-year-old motorist and left his passenger critically injured. Merton Perkins of Andover was instantly killed Tuesday afternoon when he exited a McDonald’s restaurant and drove into the path of a loaded… Read More
WOODSTOCK, New Brunswick – An investigation into a small-plane crash on the New Brunswick-Maine border last year will take longer than expected. The July 19 accident killed two Canadians. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner… Read More
MILFORD – Three teen-agers are under house arrest after being charged in connection with four bomb threats in five weeks at the Lewis S. Libby School. The two 14-year-old girls and a 13-year-old boy were arrested Tuesday evening and charged with multiple counts of terrorizing,… Read More
Well, Stephen King, your latest novel, “Dreamcatcher,” hits book-shelves today. What are you doing to celebrate? “Tabitha’s arranged for me to get a haircut this afternoon,” explained the top-selling author recently from his winter base in Naples, Fla. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
In the sunroom of his Houlton home on a not-so-sunny afternoon, Harrison Roper puts down his coffee, picks up his viola and tucks it under his chin. He shuts his eyes and skims his bow across the strings, coaxing out a tune and ending in… Read More
ORONO – Take the choreography of those blue dudes in the Intel commercial, throw in a little Monty Python, add a half-cup of vaudeville and a soupcon of “Je ne sais quoi,” mix in some mime, top off with the mask work of commedia dell’arte, and there you… Read More
If all goes according to plan, the Russian space station Mir will fall to a fiery end in the Pacific Ocean about 2,500 miles east of Australia today. According to Eugenie Samuel, in the March 10 issue of New Scientist, the Russians have taken every precaution to avoid… Read More
AUGUSTA – The University of Maine at Augusta and Dr. Tom Abbott will host a memorial service on Saturday, March 31, to celebrate the life and passing of Rockland native and poet Leo Connellan. Connellan died Feb. 22 in Norwich, Conn. At that time he… Read More
The melody and the words to Nat King Cole’s “Nature Boy” are haunting, and I must have repeated the song four times during a long walk the other day between frigid temperatures and a soggy snowstorm. That was the day I spotted a downy woodpecker… Read More
‘Tis the season for local television and radio stations to get their Sox on. With the start of the Boston Red Sox regular season only 10 days away, local Red Sox network affiliates are ironing out last-minute details in their broadcast contracts. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
With Maine’s canoe-racing season only 10 days away, local paddlers are getting eager. They’ve patched boats, retrieved their favorite life vests and paddles from the garage, and are ready to start racing. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
The Knights of Columbus state free throw championship will be held Saturday at Old Town High School. The tournament is open to boys and girls ages 10-14 who have qualified through previous local and district competitions. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Gators wore out University of Maine pitching to the tune of 16 hits and the Black Bears committed five errors Wednesday night as Florida pulled away for a 19-9 baseball victory at McKethan Stadium. Aaron Davidson went 5-for-6, including two doubles,… Read More
PORTLAND – Several members of Deering High’s basketball team have been suspended from school for drinking at their Bangor hotel after last weekend’s loss to Bangor in the state championship game. An assistant coach, Nick Caiazzo, faces a charge of stealing from the hotel bar some… Read More
OLD TOWN – Joe Campbell of Bangor and Caribou’s James Sam each scored 22 points to lead the Big East North All-Stars to a 97-72 win over the South team Wednesday at MacKenzie Gym. Campbell was named Most Outstanding Player in the game. Teammate Joe… Read More
The Harlem Globetrotters will bring their 75th anniversary tour to the Cumberland County Civic Center at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 25. Since they first took to the court in 1926, the Globetrotters have delighted more than 120 million fans in 115 countries during the past… Read More
Ever seen a martini-drinking snake dance? You can this weekend, along with the sun, the moon, sailors, flowers and even water as the Robinson Ballet Company takes the stage in a whimsically choreographed performance to Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” and Bohaslav Martinu’s “The Kitchen Revue.”… Read More
In the decade they’ve spent tapping the century-old sugar maples that surround their seaside organic farm, Jon Ellsworth and Jennifer Schroth have become syrup connoisseurs. “I haven’t even eaten Aunt Jemima since we’ve been doing it. I wouldn’t buy it if it were the last… Read More
In Theaters EXIT WOUNDS. 100 minutes, R, directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, written by Ed Horowitz and Richard D’Ovidio, based on the novel by John Westermann. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var… Read More
It’s the shoulder season, a time of transition, time to be thinking about open water and clear ground while still enjoying the waning vestiges of winter. For some of us, clear ground will come sooner than for others, but I’m told spring is on the way. The crocuses… Read More
Ah, spring is here at last. Snowbanks are shrinking fast, creating rivulets and slushy pools of water. These are a prime attraction to birds at this time of year. On one recent day, a mixed flock of pine siskins, goldfinches, and house finches sat on… Read More
Maine Maple Sunday Sunday, March 25, farmers statewide invite the public to join them in the rite of spring – making maple syrup. Free tasting and live demonstrations at most. For Maine Department of Agriculture flier of participating producers, call 287-3491. Web site: www.mainefoodandfarms.com. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More